Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Common Sense says
- R
- 2004
- 90 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Resident Evil: Apocalypse, the sequel to Resident Evil, has extremely gross and graphic violence, with many disgusting deaths and gross monsters. There are a lot of "ewwwwww" moments. Characters are in extreme peril and most of them are killed. A character commits suicide and another attempts it. There is very strong language and non-sexual nudity. A strength of the movie is the portrayal of exceptionally capable and courageous women, though of course they dress for combat in very revealing clothing.
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User Reviews
Great movie for non-impressionable children
Great for Kids That Are Fine With Language And Violence
What's the story?
In RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE, that nasty old Umbrella Corporation, "the largest and most powerful corporation in the world," is up to its bad old tricks again. This time, it unleashes a virus on the residents of Raccoon City. The virus kills them. But then "they don't stay dead," which means lots and lots of zombies of every age, shape, and size. After various experiments in the Hive, Alice (Milla Jovovich) now has enhanced powers and joins an intrepid group trying to escape from the quarantined city. But first they must rescue the young daughter of a scientist so that he will tell them how to get out. The group includes a reporter with a video camera, two military rescue operatives, and a smart aleck (Mike Epps).
Is it any good?
Still more video game than story, this film mostly a series of confrontations -- in a church, in a school, on the street, with guns, with knives, with kick-boxing, with rocket launchers and grenades. And there's hand-to-hand combat with a beauty and a beast.
It's pretty much by the numbers, and this stuff works a lot better as an interactive game than a story. But Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a slight improvement over the original, thanks to a lively and likeable performance by Epps and a couple of funny moments to break the tension. Pay attention at the end of the scene with the zombie Dobermans for the best one.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the enduring appeal of zombie movies like Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Why is it such a popular horror genre?
How does the movie demonstrate the way an organization could try to influence the news. What did it mean to say that the STARS had become "expendable assets?" What can keep a corporation from becoming as powerful as Umbrella Corp? Are there less extreme cases you can think of in real life?
What are some of the challenges of turning a video game into a movie? How do the Resident Evil movies compare to the video games?
Movie details
- In theaters: September 9, 2004
- On DVD or streaming: December 28, 2004
- Cast: Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Sienna Guillory
- Director: Alexander Witt
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: non-stop violence, language and some nudity
For kids who love video games
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.