Welcome to Raccoon City
I distinctly remember the announcement of the first Resident Evil movie back in 2001. What also lingers in my mind is the deep sense of disappointment that I felt when I finally got to see it in 2002. Instead of the familiar Spencer Mansion or even the Raccoon City Police Department; my tear-soaked (OK, I’m a drama llama) eyes were instead met with something completely different. So different, in fact, that it just felt wrong and ruined the whole movie for my 19-year-old self. I had grown up with the games, and I was more than excited to see them translated into movie format; what a let-down.
I Only had to Wait Twenty Years
Fast-forward nearly twenty long years, and my eyes fall upon the news that they are going to have another crack at the whip, and this time it seems they are doing it properly; at last! Instead of the almost science fiction tones of the first attempt, we have been promised that Resident Evil Welcome to Raccoon City is going to be taking us right back to 1998 and, at long last, to the core of the original games. This is what we have all been waiting for.
During an interview with IGN, director Johannes Roberts said that the new movie will focus on the original games. He also mentioned that we can “expect monsters from the first games, and a lot of them”; this is going to be the movie every Resident Evil fan has been waiting for. The British director (47 Meters Down and Strangers: Prey at Night) went on to reveal that both the Spencer Mansion and the Racoon City Police Department’s station will play a heavy part in Welcome to Racoon City; further confirming that this is what we have been waiting for.
Familiar Faces will be a Welcome Addition
Any long-serving fan of the Resident Evil franchise (or even new fans with the remakes) will be happy to hear that the original characters will be in Welcome to Raccoon City. As much as I appreciated Michelle Rodriguez (phwoar) in the first movie, having characters unknown to the gaming world further distanced the movie from the games we know and love. With franchise-favorites Chris and Claire Redfield (Robbie Amell and Kaya Scodelario, respectively); Jill Valentine (Hannah John-Kamen); Albert Wesker (Tom Hopper) and Leon Kennedy (Avan Jogia) confirmed, we wait with crossed fingers for the like of Mr X and, of course, Lickers.
With the information we have available, it really does look like this is going to be a must-see for fans of old and new alike. The team are keeping their cards close to their chest at the minute; however, all the signs are pointing in the direction of nostalgic bliss – at long last.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is set in 1998
Another confirmed fact, having come straight from the director’s mouth during the earlier mentioned IGN interview; Welcome to Raccoon City will be set in the original timeframe of 1998. Johannes went on to say that the Nineties will play a heavy part in the movie, further breeding excitement in my ‘90’s heart. With a release date of the 3rd of September, however, it seems I am going to have to do a lot more waiting.
Conclusion
If they play this right and stick to the original games like Gorilla Glue, then I see no reason this movie isn’t going to go on to do great things at the box office; especially owing to the fact the franchise already has a colossal following. The old faces will ignite welcome flames of nostalgia in the older fans, and new fans are in for a treat as they discover the foreboding world of Raccoon City.
