Resident Evil: Extinction - 2/5

With the, let's say it nicely, poor execution with "Apocalypse", the second film in the "Resident Evil" film franchise, low expectations were abound for the third and supposedly final (which we all know now to be bullshit) entry. "Resident Evil: Extinction" actually surpasses these expectations in many fun and odd ways creating a film that, I won't pull the wool over your eyes, is still bad, but far more enjoyable than the last film.

Alice is still on the run from Umbrella and after getting out of Raccoon City has spent a majority of years wandering a now post apocalyptic North America in search of survivors, food, water, gas, and ammo. Her new genetic powers have grown to psionic force and when she meets up with a few old friends, mainly Olivera from Raccoon City attached to a survivor convoy led by Claire Redfield the join forces and decide to head to Alaska where there is supposedly a place with no infection. With a shit load of zombies and Umbrella on their trail, they have more than just the nature of a post apocalyptic world to hinder their lives.

"Extinction" is basically "Road Warrior" meets "Resident Evil". With its desert like land scape its survival feeling and convoy concept, this film definitely smacks of those classic cheesy 80s end of the world flicks. Granted, its a far superior step above its previous film, this one still seems to run the cliche's far too often. Friends get bit but don't tell anyone, Umbrella (in other film's its usually the government) is out for their own ideas and ways to benefit from this, and the collapse of the convoy is pretty standard. The film might be an over the top fun time, but it rarely treads new ground.

Although director Mulcahy has far more sense at his job than the previous guy, he still never is able to over come many of the script errors and loopholes. This film disregards many details of the first two films for the benefit of plot movement but, whatever. I expect no less in terms of crappy writing from Anderson.

The film does have its moments. A fairly cool opening sequence that mimics the original film and a pretty stellar infected crow attack sequence both bring the film above expectations too. Its moments like these that make the film so much fun to watch even through all the cliche scenes and poor scripting.

"Extinction" may not be good, but its not near as bad as "Apocalypse" either. At least this one has moments and generally succeeds at being a fun watch more or less. Still not the film one is looking for "Resident Evil" to be on the big screen but its moving in the right direction.

BONUS TRIVIA: Ali Larter, who plays Claire Redfield in "Extinction", was in a remake horror film called "House On Haunted Hill" in 1999 with another actress named Bridgette Wilson. Wilson played Sonya Blade in Paul W.S. Anderson's big screen version of "Mortal Kombat" along side Linden Ashby as Johnny Cash. Ashby has a bit role as Chase the sniper in "Extinction". Weird huh? Its all connected! 

Written By Matt Reifschneider