Resident Evil: Death Island
Resident Evil: Death Island, the fourth canonical animated film in the franchise, hits theaters today, promising maximum fan service with a team-up of iconic Resident Evil heroes. With its thrilling Action, gore, and character development, the 90-minute film successfully balances multiple themes, characters, and narrative elements. However, Death Island falls short in fully capitalizing on the first-time meeting of Jill and Leon and sidelines Chris as a character in favor of focusing on Jill.
Set in 2015, Death Island follows Leon, Chris, Jill, Claire, and Rebecca as they investigate a zombie outbreak and a mysterious sea creature in San Francisco. Their separate investigations lead them to Alcatraz Island, where they encounter a compelling and sympathetic villain, Dylan Blake.
Blake, an Umbrella security officer, survived the Raccoon City outbreak but was forced to kill those close to him, leading him down a dark path that ultimately resulted in the death of his family. The film explores the emotional and psychological consequences of traumatic events, particularly for Jill, who is still dealing with the aftermath of being brainwashed by Wesker in Resident Evil 5.
Jill’s character arc takes center stage, providing important beats for the future of the series – and I’ll get to that in a bit. However, I’m not afraid to say that I’m a Chris fangirl – and while he’s certainly present, he’s sidelined as a love interest for Claire and a mentor to Rebecca.
This isn’t to say that Claire, Rebecca, or Chris are poorly represented, but Jill’s overarching narrative takes priority, and rightfully so. Resident Evil 7: Afterlife served as a Jill-centric prequel to Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 6 served as a Jill-centric sequel to Resident Evil 5. It’s about time she got some top billing.
Death Island succeeds in blending the film and remake versions of the characters in an organic way, with Claire and Rebecca being the most seamless. Claire’s more mature and badass take serves as a nice counterpart to Chris’s traditional goofiness, which is a nice callback to their original dynamic.
Technologically, Death Island represents a leap forward for the series. The first three films suffered from limited animation and awkward character models, but Death Island boasts breathtaking action scenes and impressive visuals. The film also blends computer-generated and practical effects in a seamless way, resulting in some truly disgusting zombies.
There are some impressive action sequences, particularly a zombie-filled ferry scene that rivals Resident Evil 2’s police station sequence, but the film lacks a standout set piece. Resident Evil 5’s introduction of the Majini (and the subsequent Hunters) in a zombie-infested hospital remains my favorite Resident Evil introduction, followed closely by Resident Evil 7’s swamp and underground laboratory sequences.
But the biggest missed opportunity is not giving Jill and Leon’s dynamic more attention. I’m not talking about a love story (though, come on, give me some canon-exclusive Jill x Leon vibes), but a more dynamic team-up. Leon and Claire’s friendship has taken center stage in the canon films, but it’s high time Jill and Leon got some screen time together.
Despite this, Death Island is the best of the canon films. It serves as a satisfying supplemental movie for fans, but there’s potential for even greater impact if given more creative license. Would a Resident Evil: Jill and Leon film be too much to ask for? If a Resident Evil 4 Remake and Resident Evil 5 Remake are in the works, a Jill and Leon Remake sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Resident Evil: Death Island releases in theaters on November 30.
