In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh return to the streets of Raccoon City to review the 2021 reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Directed by Johannes Roberts, this film attempts to steer the franchise back to its survival horror roots, combining the plots of the first two video games into a single narrative.
The discussion centers on the film's dedication to game accuracy, from the recreation of the Spencer Mansion and RPD station using Capcom's blueprints to the inclusion of iconic moments like the "Itchy Tasty" diary and the truck driver eating a burger. However, the hosts are divided on the execution. They critique the casting choices, particularly finding Leon S. Kennedy's portrayal as an incompetent rookie frustrating and questioning the characterization of Jill Valentine as a trigger-happy cop. They also debate the effectiveness of merging two distinct game storylines into a sub-two-hour movie, which leaves the pacing feeling rushed and character development thin. Despite these flaws, the crew appreciates the darker, more horror-focused tone compared to the action-heavy Milla Jovovich films, ultimately ranking it in their top three live-action Resident Evil movies.
Key Highlights [02:46] Game Accuracy: Joseph reveals that Capcom provided the filmmakers with the actual blueprints for the Spencer Mansion and the RPD station, explaining why the sets look so faithful to the games.
[03:22] Jill Sandwich Reference: The hosts note the inclusion of the infamous "Jill Sandwich" line, albeit in a different context (Jill stealing a sandwich from Wesker in a diner) than the original game's ceiling trap scene.
[11:07] Character Changes: A heated discussion on the drastic changes to the characters, specifically Leon S. Kennedy being portrayed as a bumbling idiot rather than a capable rookie cop, and Wesker being more of an anti-hero than a villain.
[28:22] Code: Veronica Easter Egg: Joseph points out a scene where Alice runs from a helicopter that is a direct visual homage to the opening cinematic of
Resident Evil Code: Veronica.
[36:41] China Censorship: Trivia about the film having to digitally remove Soviet symbols for the Chinese release, highlighting the influence of international markets on film production.
[52:53] Sequel Potential: The crew speculates on the future of the franchise, suggesting that a TV series format would be better suited for adapting the dense lore of the
Resident Evil games rather than crammed movies.