Resident Evil: Afterlife (R, 2010)

common sense media says

Fourth film in gory, video game-based series is now in 3-D.


parents & educators say
  • 67% say violence is an issue
  • 56% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Resident Evil: Afterlife is the fourth film in the sci-fi/horror series based on a video game and the first to be presented in 3-D -- which makes the near-constant fantasy violence (fighting, decaptiations, gross monsters, lots of weapons, zombie attacks) even more intense. The strong female hero, Alice, battles both a horde of the mutant zombie creatures and the evil corporation responsible for the outbreak that caused them. Language is infrequent, but "f--k" is used several times. This series continues to grow in popularity, and it's likely that teens will be champing at the bit to see it.

Positive messages: Most of Alice's concerns in this installment are with being human. She loses her "superpowers" and is grateful for the chance to be normal again. But her humanness means nothing without companionship, so she does anything she can to find more survivors. The humans in this movie try to work together to solve problems, even if some of them aren't trustworthy.
Positive role models: Despite her penchant for violence, Alice is a strong female character -- brave, highly trained and skilled. She cares for others and risks her own well being to help others. (Only once does she let a fellow human die on purpose.)
Violence: Strong fantas/action violence, including lots of guns, blades, throwing stars, slicing and dicing, biting, explosions, and martial arts fighting. Some scary moments as zombies jump out and attack; their faces open up into creepy teeth and tendrils. Characters shoot other characters in the head, and viewers see decapitations. One giant zombie attacks people with a huge homemade hammer/scythe. Alice has a gun that shoots coins and does a lot of damage. Alice is stabbed with a hypodermic needle. In one scene, a plane swoops too low over a field of zombies and leaves a huge red smear.
Sex: Women wear skimpy and/or tight clothing.
Language: Several uses of "f--k," but language isn't too frequent overall. Other words include "s--t," "hell," "bitch," "goddamn," and "ass."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Resident Evil: Afterlife

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. How did it make you feel? Were you scared? Were you grossed out?
  • Is Alice a strong female role model, or is she a stereotype?
  • How do the Resident Evil movies compare to the video games they're based on? Which is more entertaining -- the interactive zombie-killing experience, or the passive one?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE, Alice (Milla Jovovich) manages to infiltrate the secret underground headquarters of the Corporation. The man in charge, Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts), escapes and blows up the entire compound. He also manages to inject Alice with a serum that will destroy her superpowers and make her human again. She resolves to find more survivors, following a rescue signal. She runs into her old friend, Claire (Ali Larter), and then finds a bunch of humans trapped inside an empty prison building in Los Angeles. They discover that the signal is coming from a ship just off the coast, but how can eight humans get out of a building totally surrounded by hordes of the undead? And even if they do, how do they know the ship is really safe?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson -- who returns to the series for the first time since the original film -- Afterlife has an interesting look and some good, streamlined action sequences. It also has an interesting element in which several humans with opposing points of view come together to battle a greater evil.

Anderson also sets up some interesting potential sub-themes -- such as a collection of Hollywood people hiding out from the zombies, as well as the idea of the evil corporation -- but he fails to really take these anywhere. Any emotional involvement or intelligence is cut down for the benefit of keeping things moving, which, in this kind of movie, is actually a good thing. All in all, it's not particularly smart or original, but it's also not all that bad.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Screen Gems
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Cast: Ali Larter, Milla Jovovich, Wentworth Miller
Genre: Horror
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: September 10, 2010
DVD release: December 28, 2010
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: sequences of strong violence and language
Watch our review

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15
Based on 9 parent & educator reviews:
  • 67% say violence is an issue
  • 56% say language is an issue
  • 44% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

Victorfilth818
teen, 15 years old
 
Love this Movie Badass Graphics I love The Executor with his badass blunt Ax

antoineisthebest
teen, 15 years old
 
even my little brother could handle
good movie

 
Seems more like another episode in a T.V. series than a movie sequel
When a T.V. show has episodes that leave you with cliffhanger endings that go to credits right before the climax, that's understandable. When films leave you with cliffhanger endings that have you leave right before the climax, that's intollerable. Despite some pretty cool action scenes, this movie is not worth your ten dollars at the crowded movie theater. The acting isn't much, nor is the story. Parents: if your teen(s) is interested in seeing this film due to it's long-running stature, be forewarned: there are frequent, very gory scenes with frightening mutants and zombies. characters are torn apart, eaten, impaled, shot, and much more. Lots of extreme peril and tension. There's also some bad language. What I would rate it: R for Sequences of Strong Bloody Horror Violence and some Language. Bottom Line: Unless you have absolutely nothing else left to see, it's not worth your time. Maybe not even on DVD. Thanks for Reading! - Movie Man

kra
adult
 
Just about what you'd expect from a Resident Evil sequel
I didn't select "too violent" because, come on, it's Resident Evil we're talking about. Of COURSE there's violence. But as these movies go, TOO violent? I'm not sure I necessarily think so. And concerning language, yes, these were cuss words. I always pay attention to that because I HATE it. But watch this movie, then watch some of the other Resident Evils. This one has a lot less language I think. Maybe I need to watch it again. Bottom line, yes it was vulgar and violent, but I'm not sure I can call it "over the top" given that it is a movie about people and zombies killing each other. Was it good? Again, it was Resident Evil. I'm not sure it's supposed to be "good". I thought it was fun, but I like the Resident Evil thing since I played the game as a kid. Know what you're getting yourself into and don't expect Casablanca and you'll be ok! I will note thought that the 3D didn't blow my mind like it did in Avatar, it was a little headache inducing at times.

 
Resident Evil: Afterlife is a good movie but could have been a better movie but parents this movie has a lot of extreme violence and a lot of strong language that maybe best for your older teens.

olivernewman
teen, 14 years old
 
evil
love it

degrassigirl97
teen, 14 years old
 
Not too scary.
Well, honestly, I don't think this movie should've been rated R. Yes, there was a lot of violence, but mostly zombies were being killed. If you can't handle blood all the time, then don't watch this movie. There are positive messages. All the people were working together to get to one place.

manay_4511
teen, 14 years old
 
Might so it in theaters, but it'll show alot of violence, but the language is very bad though.

ace333
kid, 12 years old
 
not for kids
i loved this movie better then all the rest only problem is that the have some strong language and some gore. but still good movie just not for kids

BabySwaggles
teen, 14 years old
 
For A Mature Audience
Since I have seen all of the Resident Evil movies ever since the first one, this is probably the best one of the series. I could watch this over and over. But it is intended for a mature audience.

SimiMom
parent of 12 year old
 
Suitable for adults, not tweens.
This movie leaves room for many questions. Human experiments, violence, zombies, cannibalism.

lmddc
kid, 12 years old
 
THE BEST RE MOVIE EVER
Best RE movie ever oh and one thing there gonna make another RE movie because there is a secret ending after the end credits but im not gonna tell if you havent seen the movie. But if your just dying to know just type on youtube RE afterlife secret ending (this is 100% real i saw it myself).

littlemonster98
teen, 13 years old
 
Scary movie...very violent
This movie was greta action packed movie but ver violent. Any teen could handle it though.

 
Dawn of the dead remake 2010
Not good as previous titles but it was still good to watch Moderate to strong gore. Nothing too explicit but gruesome images So mature 16+

slasher23
teen, 16 years old
 
violent

postal dude
teen, 15 years old
 
Great zombie movie and all and all

jarednelson23
parent of 18 year old
 
no one should watch this it is a waste of time
horrible movie puts resident evil franchise to shame

candyx.
teen, 13 years old
 
I have all of these and i think there r sooo gd xx i lve them x

Christian Baughman
teen, 17 years old
 
I love this so much!!! I think it is all right for about any age of 8 and older because I let my little sister watch it and she loves all now. and she even said she wants to grow up to be just like Alice. she told me that's her nick name for now. But it's one of my favorites movies of all time!!!

macken01
kid, 8 years old
 
12 or thirteen and over
i love it its not scary i do think its for 13 year olds the game is scarey not the movies though in the movies they do drink i think

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