New images and details about Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City have been released, thanks to a new interview with writer-director Johannes Roberts on IGN. Roberts, known for his work on 47 Meters Down and The Strangers: Prey at Night, promised fans that this reboot will focus on horror rather than the sci-fi action of the previous movies, with story and characters that are more in line with what the fans. know about Resident Evil games. Those comments are sure to get a lot of Resident Evil fans excited, as are the images showing our first look at iconic characters like Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and her brother Chris Redfield, each in their appearance in the video games. Still, while some fans will be eagerly awaiting Welcome to Racoon City, this first look isn't entirely convincing. While Roberts says all the right things when he talks about how Resident Evil 2 Remake, The Exorcist, and The Shining inspired his film, we can't help but feel nervous. The long history of terrible video game adaptations may have worn us down (especially when it comes to Resident Evil), but we're not optimistic about how this movie will turn out, and it's not just based on our past. experiences of watching games on the big screen.
Zombies aren't all we should be concerned about
(Image credit: IGN/Sony Pictures) Welcome to Raccoon City will reportedly combine the stories from Resident Evil 1 and 2 into one movie. At first glance, that doesn't seem like a bad idea given how closely intertwined the adventures are, but it certainly wouldn't be our choice of games to intertwine. The horror of Resident Evil 1 is driven by the unknown. Of course, STARS agents are skillfully trained fighters, but the monsters they encounter on the grounds of an abandoned mansion are completely new to them and to the player. The claustrophobic corridors and decorated rooms create perfect hiding places for the lurking creatures, and our heroes must explore further to discover the origins of the monsters that hunt them. Meanwhile, Resident Evil 2 induces a sense of hopelessness with its apocalyptic-style horror adventure across the city. We've known about zombies since the beginning and know (for the most part) how to kill them, but the sheer number of mutant abominations invading the center of town creates an insurmountable threat that Leon and Claire have no real hope of defeating. The situation is particularly dire for our protagonists, as any ally they find will quickly meet a terrible fate, a possible harbinger of doom for our heroes. One begins as a haunted house story and the other is about a city already on the verge of total ruin. There are specific points of intersection and similarity between the tales, but making them work together will be a big challenge for Roberts. Then there's the question, of course, of whether the games' stories have enough meat on their bones to make a great movie. As a veteran horror director and screenwriter, Johannes Roberts could be the creator making sure this adventure works as a cohesive unit, but sadly his previous work doesn't inspire confidence in us. Horror is always a source of division, as not everyone will find the same stories as terrifying as someone else, but his past films generally rate mixed to negative on Rotten Tomatoes (with movies like The Strangers: Prey at Night and 47 Meters Down valued at only 40% and 53% respectively on the site).
(Image credit: IGN/Sony Pictures) Finally, and most surprisingly, we have the photos released that make the characters look like mediocre cosplayers. While the outfits worn by Kaya Scodelario and Avan Jogia as Clair and Leon would impress at a Halloween party, we expected more from the budget of a feature film. We know that adding effects and actors could help sell the look when the full movie arrives, but it's another factor that puts us on the more pessimistic side of the scale. That said, we want it to be good, and we'll be happy to remove our skepticism if it turns out well. Distributor Sony Pictures is likely desperate for this film to succeed, and not just to ensure the film's appeal. Sony's next big video game adaptation is 2022's Uncharted, starring Tom Holland, and you won't want to deter viewers from seeing more adaptations of their favorite games with a botched Resident Evil. We'll have to wait and see what Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City has in store for us when it hits theaters on November 24 (US), November 25 (Australia) and December 3 (UK).