Resident Evil: Death Island
Resident Evil: Death Island | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Eiichirō Hasumi |
Written by | Makoto Fukami |
Based on | Resident Evil by Capcom |
Produced by | Hiroyasu Shinohara Kei Miyamoto |
Cinematography | Yun M. Watanabe |
Edited by | Mitsuo Nishio |
Music by | Rei Kondoh |
Production companies | Quebico TMS Entertainment |
Distributed by | Kadokawa |
Release dates |
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Running time | 91 minutes[3] |
Country | Japan |
Language | English |
Box office | $61,511[a] |
Resident Evil: Death Island[b] is a 2023 English-language Japanese adult computer-animated action biopunk horror film set in the same universe as the Resident Evil video games. It is the fifth installment and fourth film in the animated Resident Evil series, following the 2017 film Resident Evil: Vendetta and the 2021 miniseries Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, and follows several Resident Evil protagonists as they investigate possible T-virus bioterrorism in San Francisco.
The film premiered in Singapore on June 22, 2023, before its theatrical release in Japan on July 7, 2023. It received mixed reviews, with many praising it for it bringing the main cast of characters together, soundtrack, action scenes, and the return of Jill Valentine, but was criticized for it's plot, characters, pacing, some of its visuals, and Jill's design.
Plot
[edit]In 1998, as the Raccoon City incident begins, the Umbrella Corporation hires a private military firm to help evacuate high-ranking Umbrella executives and government officials. The firm deploys Unit 6, but the majority are bitten by zombies; surviving members JJ and Dylan Blake contact headquarters to seek extraction and medical assistance, but are instructed to quarantine and ultimately eliminate their fellow comrades, leaving JJ in disbelief and angering Dylan. The pair argue until the infected soldiers attack them and bite JJ, forcing Dylan to kill him.
Seventeen years later in 2015,[6] Field Operations Support (FOS) Agent Ingrid Hunnigan tasks Division of Security Operations (DSO) agent Leon S. Kennedy with apprehending DARPA researcher and robotics engineer Doctor Antonio Taylor in San Francisco for selling classified information to foreign powers. During the briefing, Leon learns Taylor was being hunted by the San Francisco Police Department, but was kidnapped by unidentified assailants in a van. Recognizing the van as it passes him, Leon tries to intercept them, but is thwarted by Maria Gomez, a criminal who survived their last encounter the year prior.[c] Meanwhile, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA) advisor Rebecca Chambers informs Agent Chris Redfield of twelve deaths from an advanced strain of the T-virus, seemingly forcibly injected into the victims. Chris visits his partner Jill Valentine, hoping to stop her from taking part in the operation due to her time under Albert Wesker's mind control and subsequent mental health issues,[d] but she refuses.
Chris and Jill meet with Rebecca and Chris's sister Claire Redfield to discuss their findings, during which Claire notes her discovery of an orca infected with the same advanced T-virus strain swimming near the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, which had also happened to several missing whales. Discovering that all of the human victims had visited Alcatraz Island before they died, Jill and the Redfields travel there posing as tourists, but are separated when it is stricken by a sudden zombie outbreak. While exploring the sewers, Jill encounters Leon and joins him in fending off a new form of Lickers before eventually reaching the armory, where they find blueprints for mosquito-like drones used to infect people with the virus. However, they are captured by Dylan and thrown into a prison cell with Taylor and the Redfields. Believing there is no justice in the world, Dylan uses the drones to infect the Redfields and Leon, sparing Jill so she can witness her friends die like how he was forced to watch his team die in Raccoon City. He then reveals that he has taken over arms dealer Glenn Arias' crime syndicate and joined forces with Maria, who seeks revenge for her father Diego's death, before fatally shooting Taylor and escaping to use his drones around the world. As he dies, Taylor gives Claire a code for controlling the drones. While Jill pursues Dylan, she encounters Rebecca, who prepares a vaccine for the group and cures them. Leon pursues Maria and kills her after a brutal confrontation.
The Redfields, Jill, Leon, and Rebecca regroup to fight Dylan, who merges himself with a bio-organic weapon and overpowers the group. Claire and Rebecca take control of Dylan's drones and program them to infect him, weakening him enough for Jill, Leon, and Chris to kill him with explosive weaponry. As the group awaits BSAA rescue helicopters, Chris praises Jill's heroism.
Voice cast
[edit]English voice cast
- Matthew Mercer as Leon S. Kennedy[7]
- Nicole Tompkins as Jill Valentine[8]
- Kevin Dorman as Chris Redfield[9]
- Stephanie Panisello as Claire Redfield[8]
- Erin Cahill as Rebecca Chambers[9]
- Daman Mills as Dylan Blake[10]
- Cristina Vee as Maria Gomez[10]
- Salli Saffioti as Ingrid Hunnigan[8]
- Frank Todaro as Antonio Taylor[10]
- Lucien Dodge as JJ[10]
Japanese voice cast
- Toshiyuki Morikawa as Leon S. Kennedy
- Atsuko Yuya as Jill Valentine
- Hiroki Tōchi as Chris Redfield
- Yūko Kaida as Claire Redfield
- Ami Koshimizu as Rebecca Chambers
- Takehito Koyasu as Dylan Blake
- Sayaka Ohara as Maria Gomez
- Yū Sugimoto as Ingrid Hunnigan
- Yōji Ueda as Antonio Taylor
- Toshiki Masuda as JJ
Production and release
[edit]On February 2, 2023, the film was announced by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, with IGN posting an exclusive trailer for the film[11] and reported that the film will release in mid-2023, is directed by Eiichirō Hasumi and is written by Makoto Fukami.[11] Sony Pictures Home Entertainment distributed the film worldwide, excluding Japan.[12]
The film was released theatrically first in Singapore on June 22, 2023,[1] in Taiwan[13] and Malaysia on June 29,[14] and Greece on July 6,[15] before its release in Japan on July 7.[2] The film also released theatrically in Mexico on July 13, 2023.[16] In all other regions, it was released via video on demand along with DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Blu-ray on July 25, 2023.[17]
Manga
[edit]In May 2023, Capcom announced a manga adaptation of Death Island, which will be serialized monthly on Kadokawa Corporation's Comic Hu, via Nico Nico Seiga. It is drawn by ZINO Kodakujii.[18][19]
Promotion
[edit]On April 18, 2023, Little Armory announced that they would produce 1/12 scale models of small arms used by Chris, Jill and Leon (M60, AA12, and M870).[20]
On April 19, 2023, Seiko, in collaboration with Capcom, announced two Resident Evil watches inspired by the film. The two watches will be based on designs inspired by Chris and Leon, released in May, limited to 600 copies worldwide.[21]
Critical reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of 8 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.8/10.[22]
IGN gave the film a 6 out of 10, and wrote "A strong sense of action and movement, but lacking on that whole talking thing."[23] Bloody Disgusting gave it three out of five, writing that "Death Island is a solid meeting of both game and film characters, and in several respects, it outshines the last three outings. The film may not ultimately have any effect on the game series, but it is a sign that the animated Resident Evil franchise is finally starting to get its act together."[24] Paste rated it 4.5/10, stating "Over the years, Resident Evil has cultivated many distinct strains of action-horror. Unfortunately, Death Island makes for one of its least-potent variants."[25]
Notes
[edit]- ^ $43,161 from the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, New Zealand and Turkey;[4] and $18,350 from Australia.[5]
- ^ Known as Biohazard: Death Island (Japanese: バイオハザード:デスアイランド, Hepburn: Baiohazādo: Desuairando) in Japan
- ^ As depicted in Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017).
- ^ As depicted in Resident Evil 5 (2009).
References
[edit]- ^ a b Antonio Pineda, Rafael (June 16, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island CG Animated Film Opens in Singapore on June 22". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Wilson, Mike (April 10, 2023). "The Gang's All Here in New 'Resident Evil: Death Island' Poster, Image". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ Lovell, Kevin (June 5, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island; Arrives On 4K Ultra HD Steelbook, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital July 25, 2023 From Sony". Screen Connections.
- ^ "Resident Evil: Death Island (2022)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ "Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)". The Numbers. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
- ^ "発売を3月24日に控えた『バイオハザード RE:4』 その主人公である「レオン」の魅力に迫る作品をラインナップ!". Capcom.com (in Japanese). February 8, 2023.
- ^ Liu, Stephanie (April 13, 2023). "Matthew Mercer Will Return as Leon in Resident Evil Death Island". Siliconera.com.
- ^ a b c Smith, Sam (April 20, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island, setting, plot & characters". Dexerto.
- ^ a b Cayanan, Joanna (April 11, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island CG Animated Film's Trailer Reveals July 7 Debut in Japan". Animenewsnetwork.
- ^ a b c d "Resident Evil: Death Island (movie)". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Bankhurst, Adam (February 7, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island Is a New CG-Animated Film Releasing This Summer". IGN.
- ^ "Resident Evil: Death Island Exclusive Teaser Trailer". IGN. February 7, 2023.
- ^ "CG 動畫電影《惡靈古堡:死亡島》宣布將於 6 月 29 日在台上映". gamer.com.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ Resident Evil: Death Island CG Animated Film Opens in Malaysia on June 29
- ^ "Resident Evil: Death Island" (in Greek). Village Cinemas. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "When does Resident Evil Death Island open in Mexico?". euro.esuero.com. June 2023.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (June 5, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island CG Animated Film's Trailer Reveals July 25 Physical/Digital Release". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ Bueno, Daniel (May 15, 2023). "Resident Evil Death Island Manga Adaptation Releasing in May 2023". Siliconera. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (May 18, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island CG Animated Film Gets Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Liu, Stephanie (April 18, 2023). "Little Armory to Release Resident Evil: Death Island Gun Replicas". Siliconera.com.
- ^ Bueno, Daniel (April 19, 2023). "Resident Evil Death Island Seiko Watches Cost Over $2,300". siliconera.com.
- ^ "Resident Evil: Death Island". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ Jul 26, Johnny Loftus (July 26, 2023). "Resident Evil: Death Island Review". IGN. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Lê, Paul (July 26, 2023). "'Resident Evil: Death Island' Review – An All-Star and Affecting Entry in the Animated Franchise". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Resident Evil: Death Island Fails To Reanimate the Series' Action-Horror Thrills". Paste Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Japanese)
- Resident Evil: Death Island at IMDb
- 2023 films
- Resident Evil films
- 2023 anime films
- 2023 computer-animated films
- 2023 science fiction action films
- 2023 science fiction horror films
- 2020s action horror films
- 2020s English-language films
- Alcatraz Island in fiction
- Anime action films
- Anime films based on video games
- English-language Japanese films
- Films set in 2015
- Animated films set in the 2010s
- Animated films set in San Francisco
- Animated films set on islands
- Horror anime and manga
- Interquel films
- Japanese action horror films
- Japanese adult animated films
- Japanese animated horror films
- Japanese animated science fiction films
- Japanese computer-animated films
- Japanese science fiction action films
- Japanese science fiction horror films
- TMS Entertainment
- Works based on Capcom video games
- Animated films set in the 1990s
- Films set in 1998