Review - Resident Evil: Apocalypse

What it lacked in substance, it certainly made up for in action . . .

Here's the thing . . . If you like shoot to kill zombie-type movies, then you will love Resident Evil: Apocalypse. However, if you require more substance to your films than just action, kills and gore then you might want to skip Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

In the much anticipated sequel to Resident Evil, we pick up some time after Alice (Milla Jovovich) and Matt (Eric Mabius) are "rescued" by the Umbrella Corporation at the opening of the Hive. At the end of the first Resident Evil, you get the feeling that Matt is already mutating into something not so pretty. The Umbrella Corporation's big wigs decide (in all their wisdom) that they need to know what went on down in the hive. Needless to say, when they go down and open the doors the infected are waiting to feast on fresh meat and quickly overtake Racoon City.

There is an evacuation of all head personnel of the corporation but Dr. Ashford (Jared Harris), Umbrella's head scientist, will not leave without his daughter Angie (Sophie Vavasseur). Unfortunately, she has been lost in the shuffle. Dr. Ashford contacts Alice (who we learn early on, has already been infected with the T-Cell Virus) and others who are still alive in Racoon City and make them a deal, if they find his daughter he will get them out of the city alive. Unfortunately, Umbrella Corporation and Major Cain (Thomas Kretschmann) have other ideas. They unleash Nemesis onto Racoon City to eradicate their little problem.

I want to mention a few characters who were integral to the movie: Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory) a kick-ass femme fatale hell bent on getting out of Racoon City alive; Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) a hunky soldier that is just not ready to give up and die; Nicholai Ginovaeff (Zack Ward) again, a hunky soldier that is just not ready to give up and die; Angie Ashford (Sophie Vavasseur) the daughter of Dr. Ashford and the original reason for the creation of the T-Cell Virus; L.J. (Mike Epps) the pimp daddy, stereotypical black man who uses his street smarts to stay alive; Terri Morales (Sandrine Holt) the hot shot reporter convinced she will win an emmy for her piece on Racoon City; and finally Nemesis (Matthew G. Taylor) one freaky - but somewhat sentimental - killing machine. Oh yes, and who could forget the inside-out Dobermans?

In the end, Racoon City is sanitized and a major coverup is played out by the Umbrella Corporation who have once again "rescued" Alice. They definitely leave this one open for a sequel that I am sure we will all watch. And just in case you are wondering, I did like Resident Evil: Apocalypse. It was very entertaining even though it was lacking a little bit in the substance department.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse Movie Cast and Credits

Directed by
Alexander Witt

Writing credits (WGA)
Paul W.S. Anderson (written by)


Cast (in credits order)
Milla Jovovich .... Alice
Sienna Guillory .... Jill Valentine
Oded Fehr .... Carlos Olivera
Thomas Kretschmann .... Major Cain
Sophie Vavasseur .... Angie Ashford
Razaaq Adoti .... Peyton Wells (as Raz Adoti)
Jared Harris .... Dr. Ashford
Mike Epps .... L.J.
Sandrine Holt .... Terri Morales
Matthew G. Taylor .... Nemesis
Zack Ward .... Nicholai Ginovaeff
Iain Glen .... Dr. Isaacs
Dave Nichols .... Captain Henderson
Stefan Hayes .... Yuri Loginova
Geoffrey Pounsett .... Mackenzie
Shaun Austin-Olsen .... Priest
Geny Walters .... Mrs. Priest
Megan Fahlenbock .... Marla Maples
Robert Morelli .... Director
Aaron Abrams .... Assistant
Chris Benson .... Lance Halloran
Martin Martinuzzi .... Overworked Detective
Brad Borbridge .... Overworked Sergeant
Frank Chiesurin .... Sniper
Ron Benjamin .... Bum
Kevin Hare .... Home Owner/Scientist
Heather Dick .... Older Woman
Alex Courey .... Suit #1
John Detoro .... Suit #2
Billy Khoury .... Suit #3
Sava Drayton .... Suit #4
Nicole Ann St. Hill .... Undead Gaudy Hooker
Ricardo Betancourt .... Burly Cop #1
Ted Ludzik .... Burly Cop #2
Michelle Latimer .... Tech #1
Catherine Burdon .... Tech #2
Rebecca Sims .... Undead Little Girl
Christopher Weedon .... Undead Little Boy #1
Billy Parrott .... Security Guard
Derek Aasland .... Featured Graveyard Undead #1/Featured Surplus Undead #3
Richard Harte .... Featured Graveyard Undead #2/Featured Rooftop Undead #2
Simon Girard .... Chopper Pilot #1
Dean Copkov .... Chopper Pilot #2
Jeff White .... Chopper Pilot #3
Tim Burd .... Refugee #1
Natalie Charles .... Refugee #2
Pierre Henry .... Screaming Soldier
Jim Codrington .... Lieutenant
Deborah Valente .... Tech
Malcolm Fiddick .... Reflection Undead
Michy Gustavia .... Featured City Hall Undead #1
Shane Mackinnon .... Featured City Hall Undead #2
Ed Fielding .... Featured City Hall Undead #3
Stephen Hart .... Featured City Hall Undead #4
Sandi Stahlbrand .... Featured City Hall Undead #5
Christopher Marren .... Reporter #1 (as Chris Marren)
Tom Gerhardt .... Zombie Dad
Amber Marshall .... Daughter
Venice Grant .... Undead Stripper #1
Ana Danilina .... Undead Stripper #2
Ingrid Johansson .... Featured IV Woman Undead
Jeffrey Weedon .... Undead Little Boy #2
Melanie Tonello .... Featured Undead Kid #1
Annabel Chu .... Featured Undead Kid #2
Joey Jefferson .... Featured Undead Kid #3
Heather Braaten .... Featured Rooftop Undead #1
Joey Beck .... Featured Rooftop Undead #3
Eric Morgan .... Featured City Walker #1
Gene Pyrz .... Featured City Walker #2
Torquil Colbo .... Featured City Walker #3
Joan Moore .... Featured City Walker #4
Peter C. Wylde .... Featured City Walker #5
Garry Geddes .... Featured City Walker #6
Dionne Renee .... Featured City Walker #7
Janessa Crimi .... Featured Undead Kid #4
Dan Ellery .... Featured Surplus Undead #1
Sharon Moore .... Featured Surplus Undead #2
Jo Chim .... Network Anchor #1
Bobby Prochaska .... Network Anchor #2
Jazz Mann .... Reporter #2
Larissa Gomes .... Reporter #3
Gregory White .... Lab Technician
Roman Podhora .... Leader Umbrella Guard
Brian King .... Umbrella Gate Guard
Robert Hall .... Featured School Undead (as Rob Hall)
Eric Mabius .... Matt Addison in flashback (archive footage)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael C. Newsome .... Detective (uncredited)
Alexander Witt .... Umbrella Sniper (uncredited)