Resident Evil- Welcome To Raccoon City May 2026
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) is a gritty, horror-centric reboot that trades the high-octane spectacle of previous films for a dark, atmospheric trip back to the series' roots. Directed by Johannes Roberts, the film attempts a massive feat: merging the plots of the first two video games into a single, terrifying night. A Love Letter to the Source Material
Unlike the previous Paul W.S. Anderson films, which drifted into original sci-fi territory, Welcome to Raccoon City leans heavily into fan service:
Game-Accurate Sets: The Spencer Mansion and the Raccoon Police Department (RPD) were built to match the games' layouts, creating a deep sense of nostalgia for players.
Iconic Moments: The film recreates famous cutscenes almost frame-for-frame, such as the first zombie encounter in the mansion.
Deep Lore: It introduces characters previously ignored by live-action adaptations, most notably the tragic, malformed Lisa Trevor. The Dual Narrative The story splits between two groups of survivors:
Released on November 24, 2021, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
is an action-horror film that serves as a reboot of the live-action Resident Evil franchise. Unlike the previous Milla Jovovich-led films, this installment is a standalone project written and directed by Johannes Roberts that attempts a much more faithful adaptation of the original Capcom video games. Core Premise & Plot
The film is set in September 1998 and merges the storylines of the first two games—Resident Evil (1996) and Resident Evil 2 (1998)—into one night.
The Setting: Once a thriving hub for the pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City is now a dying town.
The Conflict: As Umbrella pulls out, they leave behind a brewing biological disaster. Residents begin turning into bloodthirsty monsters due to a T-Virus outbreak in the water supply.
The Survivors: The story follows Claire Redfield, who returns to the city to warn her brother Chris Redfield about Umbrella's secret experiments. As the outbreak intensifies, Chris and his S.T.A.R.S. teammates head to the Spencer Mansion, while Claire teams up with rookie officer Leon S. Kennedy at the Raccoon Police Department (RPD) to find a way out before the city's destruction. Cast & Key Characters
The film features an ensemble cast portraying iconic characters from the gaming lore: Kaya Scodelario as Claire Redfield Robbie Amell as Chris Redfield Hannah John-Kamen as Jill Valentine Avan Jogia as Leon S. Kennedy Tom Hopper as Albert Wesker Neal McDonough as William Birkin Production & Game Faithfulness
Director Johannes Roberts, a self-proclaimed fan of the series, emphasized horror and atmosphere over the high-octane action of previous films.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City Witness the beginning of evil.
Once the booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corp, Raccoon City is now a dying Midwestern town. Beneath the surface, something terrifying has been brewing. When that evil is unleashed, a group of survivors must work together to uncover the dark truth behind Umbrella and make it through the night. Survival is their only mission.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
is a 2021 action-horror film directed by Johannes Roberts that serves as a reboot of the Resident Evil
film franchise. Unlike the previous series starring Milla Jovovich, this film aims for a more faithful adaptation of the Capcom survival horror video games, specifically merging the plots of the first two entries. Core Premise and Plot
Set in 1998, the story follows a group of survivors during the final hours of Raccoon City, a once-thriving Midwestern town decaying after the exodus of the pharmaceutical giant, the Umbrella Corporation. The Outbreak:
As a deadly bioweapon (the T-virus) is unleashed, the town's citizens transform into cannibalistic zombies. The Mission:
The narrative is split between two iconic game locations: the Spencer Mansion
, where the STARS Alpha team (including Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine) investigates missing colleagues, and the Raccoon Police Department (RPD)
, where rookie Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield attempt to survive the chaos.
The survivors must work together to uncover Umbrella's dark secrets and escape before the city is destroyed to contain the infection. Key Cast and Characters
The film features an ensemble cast portraying legendary characters from the video game series: Claire Redfield: Kaya Scodelario
, she returns to her hometown to warn her brother about Umbrella's experiments. Chris Redfield:
Played by Robbie Amell, an elite police officer who initially dismisses his sister's conspiracy theories. Jill Valentine:
Played by Hannah John-Kamen, a member of the STARS team portrayed here with a more unpredictable edge than in the games. Leon S. Kennedy:
Played by Avan Jogia, depicted as a bumbling, naive rookie cop who eventually finds his footing as a hero. Albert Wesker:
Played by Tom Hopper, a morally gray operative with secret objectives. William Birkin:
Played by Neal McDonough, the scientist responsible for the viral mutations. Production and Reception Faithfulness vs. Execution:
While many fans and critics praised the film's dedication to game-accurate sets, lighting, and "Easter eggs," it received mixed reviews for its rushed third act and thin character development. Box Office: On an estimated $25 million budget , the film grossed approximately $42 million worldwide
Due to its modest commercial performance, direct sequels were reportedly cancelled, with a new reboot currently slated for release in September 2026. Media Availability
For those looking to watch or play the source material, various formats and editions are available: Film Versions: You can find the movie on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray or standard at retailers like Video Game Bundle: Resident Evil Raccoon City Edition
, which includes the remakes of the first two games the film is based on, is available as a digital key on platforms like through merchants like specific differences between the movie and the original video games?
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a feature-length fan film
Here’s a social media post for Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, written in an engaging, fan-friendly tone. You can use it on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Option 1 (Short & punchy – great for Twitter/IG caption)
Just watched Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City 🧟♂️🏙️
Finally, a RE movie that feels like the games – creepy mansion, eerie streets, and actual survival horror vibes. Robbie Amell as Chris? Yes. The zombie dog hallway? NIGHTMARE FUEL. 🐕🦺🔥
It’s cheesy, dark, and unapologetically nostalgic. If you grew up playing the classics, this one’s for you.
🎮➡️🎬 What’s your favorite scene? Mine = Jill sandwich reference. 🥪
#ResidentEvil #WelcomeToRaccoonCity #RE #SurvivalHorror #RaccoonCity
Option 2 (Detailed & review-style – good for Facebook or Reddit) Resident Evil- Welcome to Raccoon City
Title: Finally, a faithful(ish) Resident Evil adaptation 🙌
Just finished Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, and I have thoughts.
✅ What worked:
- The atmosphere is thick – constant rain, neon signs, claustrophobic halls.
- References everywhere (typewriters, herbs, crimson heads).
- The Spencer Mansion sequence > any other RE movie scene.
❌ What didn’t:
- Pacing is rushed – they crammed RE1 & RE2 into one movie.
- Some CGI rough around the edges.
Overall: If you want a fun, horror-leaning throwback that respects the source material, watch it. If you loved the Paul W.S. Anderson action movies, this is very different.
🎃 Best watch with: headphones + lights off.
#WelcomeToRaccoonCity #ResidentEvilMovie #GamersUnite
Option 3 (Meme / fun comment style – short and shareable)
Me before Welcome to Raccoon City: "How bad can it be?"
Me after: Saves game, checks corners, avoids dogs
10/10 for nostalgia. 6/10 for plot. 100/10 for the typewriter save room music. 🎹🩸
#RaccoonCitySurvivor
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City - A City of Horror
The Resident Evil franchise, one of the most iconic and enduring horror series in gaming history, takes place in a variety of terrifying locations. But one location stands out as a hub of horror and chaos: Raccoon City. In this write-up, we'll explore the dark history of Raccoon City, its significance in the Resident Evil series, and what makes it such a fascinating and terrifying setting.
The Birthplace of Biohazard
Raccoon City, a fictional city in the Midwestern United States, serves as the primary setting for several Resident Evil games, including Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, and Resident Evil: Code: Veronica. The city was once a thriving metropolis, home to the Umbrella Corporation, a powerful and sinister biotechnology company. Umbrella's presence in Raccoon City led to a catastrophic chain of events that would transform the city into a nightmare.
The Umbrella Corporation's Dark Legacy
Umbrella's activities in Raccoon City were shrouded in secrecy, but their research and experiments had disastrous consequences. The company's scientists created the T-Virus, a deadly pathogen that reanimated the dead, turning them into horrific creatures known as zombies. As the virus spread, Umbrella's facilities in Raccoon City became breeding grounds for a new generation of biohazards.
The Outbreak
The events of Resident Evil 2 and 3 take place during a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City. The T-Virus spreads rapidly, infecting the city's population and turning them into undead monsters. The city is thrown into chaos as the police and military struggle to contain the outbreak. The heroes of the series, including Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Jill Valentine, must navigate the city's treacherous streets and abandoned buildings to uncover the truth behind the outbreak.
The Dark Atmosphere of Raccoon City
Raccoon City's atmosphere is a character in its own right. The city's once-thriving downtown area is now a desolate, post-apocalyptic wasteland. The streets are littered with debris, and the sounds of groaning zombies and screams fill the air. The city's gothic architecture, with its dark alleys and cramped streets, adds to the sense of claustrophobia and dread.
Why Raccoon City Matters
Raccoon City is more than just a setting for the Resident Evil series; it's a character that drives the plot and shapes the experiences of the game's heroes. The city's dark history and tragic fate serve as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked scientific progress and the consequences of playing God.
The city's significance extends beyond the games themselves, too. Raccoon City has become an iconic part of gaming culture, symbolizing the horror and survival genres. The city's influence can be seen in other games, movies, and TV shows, and it continues to inspire new works of fiction.
Conclusion
Raccoon City is a testament to the power of setting in storytelling. The city's dark history, atmospheric environment, and significance in the Resident Evil series make it a fascinating and terrifying location. As a hub of horror and chaos, Raccoon City continues to captivate audiences and inspire new works of fiction. Welcome to Raccoon City, where the horrors of the Resident Evil series come to life.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a 2021 survival horror film that serves as a reboot of the live-action franchise. Unlike the previous films starring Milla Jovovich, this installment aims for a more faithful adaptation by directly utilizing the plot and characters from the first two Capcom video games. Core Premise & Plot September 1998
, the story follows a group of survivors in the decaying Midwestern town of Raccoon City, which has become a wasteland after the pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation relocated its operations. The Mansion Incident:
Members of the STARS Alpha Team (Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker) are dispatched to the remote Spencer Mansion to investigate the disappearance of the Bravo Team. The RPD Siege:
Simultaneously, rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield (who returned to find her brother Chris) attempt to survive an all-out zombie outbreak at the Raccoon City Police Department The Antagonist:
The group uncovers the truth behind Umbrella's illegal experiments led by Dr. William Birkin
, who eventually mutates into a monstrous threat after injecting himself with the G-Virus. Main Cast & Characters
The film features an ensemble cast portraying iconic characters from the games: Claire Redfield: Kaya Scodelario Chris Redfield: Robbie Amell Jill Valentine: Hannah John-Kamen Leon S. Kennedy: Avan Jogia Albert Wesker: Tom Hopper Dr. William Birkin: Neal McDonough Production & Reception
The Vibe: 90s Grunge Meets Carpenter’s Cold
Forget the sleek, futuristic underground labs of the Anderson era. Welcome to Raccoon City is drenched in atmosphere. The film looks like it was shot through a layer of rain, rust, and cigarette smoke. Roberts has openly cited John Carpenter (The Thing, Halloween) and David Cronenberg (The Fly) as influences, and it shows.
Raccoon City isn't a city; it's a dying, bankrupt industrial town abandoned by the Umbrella Corporation. The streets are empty, the lighting is cold fluorescent, and the orphanage looks like a gateway to hell. This isn’t an action movie setting; it’s a tragedy waiting to happen. The film captures the "blue glow" of the original PlayStation games’ save rooms and the claustrophobic, fixed-camera angle aesthetic perfectly. You feel the dread of walking down a hallway with only a lighter and a handgun with six bullets.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City — Review
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) is a return-to-roots adaptation that tries to recapture the bleak, survival-horror atmosphere of the original 1996 game rather than the glossy action of the earlier film series. It’s a mood-driven, sometimes uneven love letter for fans and a modestly effective horror film in its own right.
What works
- Atmosphere: Director Johannes Roberts nails the small-town decay. Foggy streets, peeling wallpaper, and claustrophobic interiors evoke late-90s survival-horror visuals. The film’s production design and score lean into dread rather than spectacle.
- Faithful game elements: Key beats and set pieces—St. Michael’s Orphanage, the Spencer Mansion echoes, the Raccoon City Police Department—are recognizable and often staged to please series fans. Easter eggs and character pairings feel deliberate and respectful.
- Tonal restraint: The movie mostly avoids the kinetic, CGI-heavy action of previous adaptations. When shocks land, they’re grim and physical, not cartoonish.
- Cast highlights: Kaya Scodelario brings grit and vulnerability as Claire Redfield; Hannah John-Kamen’s Jill Valentine is intense and combative; Neal McDonough gives a solid, quietly chilling performance as Chief Irons.
What doesn’t fully land
- Pacing and structure: The film’s two-act structure (one focused on the RPD and the other on the mansion/orphanage) sometimes feels disjointed. The first half is slow-burn exposition; the second rushes into monster set pieces, which makes the emotional arcs feel compressed.
- Underused characters: Several franchise favorites appear but get limited development. Lucas and other newcomers add texture but not much depth, leaving some character choices feeling perfunctory.
- Predictability: For seasoned horror fans and gamers, many plot turns and twists are familiar. The film relies on nostalgia more than surprising storytelling.
- CG and creature design: Most practical effects are strong, but a few CGI moments betray the budget and pull viewers briefly out of the tactile horror the film otherwise builds.
Verdict Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City succeeds as a heartfelt, darker reimagining that prioritizes mood and fidelity to its source. It won’t convert viewers who dislike the franchise’s tropes, and it occasionally stumbles in pacing and character depth—but for fans craving a grimmer, less bombastic Resident Evil on screen, it’s the closest thing yet to the tone of the original games.
Score: 3.5/5 — A respectful, atmospheric reboot with strong set pieces and fan service, held back by uneven pacing and underused characters.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a 2021 survival horror film that serves as a reboot of the live-action franchise, moving away from the action-heavy style of the Milla Jovovich era to return to the series' atmospheric horror roots. Movie Overview Release Date: November 24, 2021. Johannes Roberts, known for 47 Meters Down
Set in 1998, the film follows a group of survivors during the initial outbreak of the T-Virus in Raccoon City, a once-booming town now decaying after the exodus of the pharmaceutical giant, Umbrella Corporation. Faithfulness to Source:
Unlike previous films, this entry is a direct adaptation of the first two games in the series— Resident Evil Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) is
—blending the stories of the Spencer Mansion and the Raccoon City Police Department into a single narrative. Key Characters and Cast
The film features an ensemble cast portraying iconic protagonists from the video game franchise: Claire Redfield (Kaya Scodelario):
A young woman returning to her hometown to warn her brother about Umbrella’s secrets. Chris Redfield (Robbie Amell):
A member of the S.T.A.R.S. unit and Claire’s estranged brother. Leon S. Kennedy (Avan Jogia): A rookie police officer on his first day at the RPD. Jill Valentine (Hannah John-Kamen): A skilled marksman and member of S.T.A.R.S.. Albert Wesker (Tom Hopper):
A key member of the team whose true motivations are revealed as the night unfolds. William Birkin (Neal McDonough):
A leading Umbrella scientist with a deep connection to the Redfields' childhood. Reception and Performance Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
The rain over Raccoon City never fell clean. It always carried the faint taste of rust and diesel, dripping from neon signs and pooling in cracked asphalt. On the night of September 28, it was no different—except for the helicopters.
Claire Redfield pulled her damp jacket tighter as she stepped off the Greyhound at the edge of downtown. The bus station was nearly empty. A flickering fluorescent light buzzed overhead like a dying insect. She’d expected her brother Chris to meet her, but the payphone only rang with a hollow, unanswered tone.
“Typical,” she muttered, shouldering her duffel bag.
The streets were wrong. That was the first thing she noticed. Cars sat abandoned at intersections, doors open, radios still crackling with static. A convenience store’s front window was shattered from the inside, glass glittering under the rain like scattered ice. She walked past a diner where a half-eaten plate of eggs sat on the counter, the cook’s apron still draped over a stool.
No sirens. No people. Just the rain and the wind, and something else—a low, wet growl from an alley.
Claire froze. Her hand instinctively went to the small pocketknife on her keychain. She wasn't armed. This was supposed to be a simple visit. Find Chris. Get answers about why he’d stopped calling. Leave.
“Chris?” she called out, her voice too loud in the dead air.
No answer. But something moved in the shadows of the alley. A figure—no, a shape—shambled into the amber glow of a streetlamp. Its face was the color of spoiled milk, eyes filmed over like a dead fish. Its lab coat, once white, was now a ruin of crimson and mud. It turned its head with a dry crack, jaw unhinging in a way jaws shouldn't.
Claire took a step back. “Hey… you okay?”
The thing lunged.
She dodged by instinct, her boots slipping on wet concrete. The creature stumbled past her, crashing into a newspaper box, but recovered with unnatural speed. It didn't breathe. It didn't blink. It just kept coming, fingers clawing at the air.
Claire ran.
The rain turned into a curtain. Her lungs burned as she ducked through an alley, vaulted a low fence, and burst onto a wider street. The Raccoon City Police Department building loomed ahead—gothic, stern, its clock tower frozen at 10:47. Lights were on inside. She could see shadows moving past the frosted glass of the front doors.
She slammed into the doors, shoving them open. “Help! Someone, please—there’s something out there!”
Inside, the lobby was chaos. Desks overturned. Shell casings glittering on the marble floor. A single officer sat with his back to the wall, trembling, his service revolver aimed at the door. His nameplate read: Leon S. Kennedy.
“First day?” Claire asked breathlessly.
“Worse than I imagined,” he replied, his voice steady despite his shaking hands. “You bit?”
“No. What the hell is going on?”
Before he could answer, the lights flickered and died. Emergency reds kicked in, painting the lobby in blood-colored streaks. Through the front windows, they saw them—dozens. Scores. A slow, relentless tide of shambling bodies, their mouths open in silent hunger.
“We can’t stay here,” Claire said.
Leon nodded, finally standing. “The garage. There’s a transport truck. If we can get to it—”
A crash from the second floor. Something heavy—something large—dragged itself across the ceiling above them. Dust rained down. A long, whip-like tongue slithered through a crack in the floor tiles, tasting the air.
Claire grabbed Leon’s arm. “Move. Now.”
They ran through the bullpen, past dead officers who were no longer dead, past overturned vending machines and walls smeared with desperate handprints. The city outside howled—a chorus of moans and sirens that had long since given up.
Raccoon City wasn’t dying. It was already gone.
And somewhere in the darkness below the police station, in the Umbrella laboratories buried beneath the streets, something with too many eyes and no mercy at all opened its mouth and smiled.
This short story explores the atmospheric tension and character dynamics found in the film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. The Quiet Before the Storm
The rain in Raccoon City didn’t feel like water; it felt like a shroud. Claire Redfield adjusted the collar of her jacket as the neon sign of the Victory Diner flickered, buzzing like a dying insect. The town was a hollow shell of the industrial titan it had been during her childhood. Now, the air tasted of ozone and something metallic—the unmistakable scent of Umbrella Corporation’s decay.
Inside the Raccoon City Police Department, the atmosphere was even heavier. Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie with eyes far too bright for a place this dim, slumped behind his desk. He was a man out of time, assigned to a precinct that felt more like a tomb than a station. Across the room, Chris Redfield checked his sidearm with a mechanical precision that masked the growing dread in his gut. He hadn't seen his sister in years, but her warnings about Umbrella were starting to echo in the silence of the empty streets. The Breach at Spencer Mansion
While the city held its breath, the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team—including the stoic Albert Wesker and the sharp-witted Jill Valentine—plunged into the heart of the forest. The Spencer Mansion loomed ahead, a Victorian nightmare of marble and secrets.
As they crossed the threshold, the silence was shattered by a sound that wasn't human. It was a wet, tearing noise followed by a low, guttural moan. Wesker’s eyes narrowed, his hand hovering near his holster. He knew more than he let on, his loyalty already shifting toward the shadows. Jill, however, felt the primal instinct to run. The grand foyer, once a symbol of opulence, was now a hunting ground for the T-Virus’s first successes. Convergence
Back in town, the thin veil of order finally snapped. The "flu" that had been sidelining the citizens turned into a frenzied hunger. Claire and Leon found themselves pinned in the R.P.D. garage, the gated entrance buckling under the weight of a dozen pale, gnashing figures.
"We need to find Chris," Claire shouted over the groan of twisting metal.
"I'm just trying to survive my first day!" Leon yelled back, leveling his shotgun.
The two groups—one fighting through the labyrinthine puzzles of the mansion and the other navigating the crumbling urban sprawl—were on a collision course. They were the only ones left to witness the truth: Raccoon City wasn't being saved; it was being erased. As the sirens began to wail across the valley, signaling the final countdown, the survivors realized that the true monster wasn't just the creatures in the dark, but the corporation that had built the walls around them. P.D. siege?
This guide covers everything you need to know about the 2021 film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
, which reboots the live-action franchise by returning to the survival horror roots of the original video games. 📽️ Film Overview Director: Johannes Roberts Runtime: 107 minutes Rating: R (for strong violence, gore, and language) Option 1 (Short & punchy – great for
Plot: Set in 1998, the film merges the events of the first two games. It follows two parallel stories:
The Mansion Incident: The STARS Alpha team investigates the mysterious disappearance of their colleagues at the remote Spencer Mansion.
Raccoon City Outbreak: Claire Redfield and rookie Leon S. Kennedy try to survive a zombie outbreak in the city and escape before it is destroyed. 👥 Key Characters & Cast
Claire Redfield (Kaya Scodelario): A hitchhiker returning to find her brother and expose Umbrella.
Chris Redfield (Robbie Amell): Claire's brother and a Raccoon City police officer.
Leon S. Kennedy (Avan Jogia): A rookie cop on his first (and worst) day of work.
Jill Valentine (Hannah John-Kamen): A skilled member of the STARS Alpha team.
Albert Wesker (Tom Hopper): A member of the police force with a secret agenda.
William Birkin (Neal McDonough): An Umbrella scientist conducting inhumane experiments.
Lisa Trevor (Marina Mazepa): A tragic, disfigured victim of Umbrella's experiments. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City Movie Review
Released in late 2021, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
is an action horror reboot that aims to be a more faithful adaptation of the original Capcom video games than previous film iterations. Plot & Setting The film is set in
and serves as an origin story, creatively merging the plots of the first two Resident Evil games into a single narrative. Dual Narratives : One storyline follows Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker as they investigate the eerie Spencer Mansion . Parallel to this, Claire Redfield
returns to Raccoon City to warn her brother and teams up with rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy to survive a city-wide zombie outbreak. Atmosphere
: Director Johannes Roberts drew inspiration from John Carpenter’s films to create a claustrophobic, "B-movie" horror vibe with an eerie synthesizer score. Content and Age Rating The film is rated ) for significant graphic content: Plugged In Violence & Gore
: Features "extremely gory" zombie violence, including graphic corpses, mutant creature attacks (like the Licker), and people on fire.
: Contains "extremely strong, constant language" with approximately 70 uses of the f-word Substances
: Includes scenes of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Plugged In Critical & Fan Reception Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
The 2021 film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a survival horror reboot that adapts the stories of the first two games in the Capcom franchise. It is rated for strong violence, gore, and language throughout. 🧬 Plot & Setting
September 1998 in Raccoon City, a dying town abandoned by the pharmaceutical giant, the Umbrella Corporation
An evil experiment is unleashed, forcing a group of survivors to uncover the truth and survive the night. Key Locations: Features iconic game sets like the Spencer Mansion Raccoon City Police Department (RPD) Disney Plus 🔞 Content Advisory Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City Movie Review
This guide covers Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
, a reboot that serves as an origin story by merging the plots of the first two video games (Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2). Core Plot & Setting
Set in 1998, the film explores two parallel narratives occurring simultaneously on the night Raccoon City is destroyed.
The Spencer Mansion Incident: STARS Alpha team (Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker) investigates the disappearance of Bravo team at a remote mansion. They discover Umbrella’s illegal experiments and encounter the first wave of zombies.
The Raccoon City Outbreak: Claire Redfield returns to the city to warn her brother Chris about Umbrella’s experiments. She teams up with rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy to survive the outbreak at the Raccoon City Police Department (RPD). Key Characters
Claire Redfield: An investigator/hitchhiker who grew up in the Raccoon City Orphanage and returns to expose Umbrella.
Chris Redfield: Claire’s brother and a member of the elite STARS unit.
Leon S. Kennedy: A rookie police officer on his first day at the RPD, often depicted as a hungover and somewhat out-of-his-depth newcomer. Jill Valentine: A skilled STARS sharpshooter.
Albert Wesker: The STARS leader who secretly works for a mysterious organization seeking to steal Umbrella’s research.
William Birkin: An Umbrella scientist who experiments on children and eventually injects himself with the G-Virus, becoming the film's primary monster.
Lisa Trevor: A disfigured victim of Umbrella’s experiments from the orphanage who aids Claire and Leon. Ending & Post-Credits Explained
The Escape: The survivors (Chris, Claire, Leon, Jill, and Sherry Birkin) flee Raccoon City via an underground Umbrella train just before the city is destroyed by a tactical explosion intended to erase evidence.
Final Battle: Leon uses a rocket launcher to destroy the mutated William Birkin on the train.
Mid-Credits Scene: Albert Wesker, presumed dead, awakens in a body bag. He is greeted by Ada Wong, who provides him with his iconic sunglasses and reveals he was resurrected by a virus. Notable Easter Eggs for Fans
The Genius (and Controversial) Choice: The Timeline Merge
The biggest risk Roberts takes is merging the plots of Resident Evil (2002) and Resident Evil 2 (1998) into one night. The STARS team investigates the Spencer Mansion while Claire, Leon, and a news chopper pilot named Irons (a nod to the corrupt Chief) try to survive the city.
Purists hated this. They argued it rushes both stories. But for a film that had a modest $25 million budget and 107 minutes to run, it was a brilliant compression of the franchise's "golden era." It allows us to see the origin of the T-Virus outbreak (the mansion) and its consequence (the city) simultaneously. It also solves the ludicrous video game logic of "The city is on fire, but I’m going to solve puzzles in this mansion for 12 hours before heading back."
The Horror: Practical Effects vs. Digital Ghouls
Roberts is a horror director first, and it shows. Welcome to Raccoon City is surprisingly violent and deeply unsettling in its first hour. The film utilizes a mix of practical makeup effects for the zombies—rotting flesh, cloudy eyes, that specific lurch—and CGI only for the more outlandish monsters.
The highlight? The Licker.
During a tense sequence in the RPD corridors, the film delivers a masterclass in suspense. The Licker is introduced slowly: first the sound of claws on the ceiling, then a glimpse of a brain, then the full, terrifying creature. It moves with a jerky, unnatural speed that feels lifted directly from the 1998 cutscenes.
However, the film is not perfect. The third act descends into CGI chaos during the final Tyrant (Mr. X) showdown. While the Tyrant’s design is ripped straight from the game—trench coat, claw, relentless walk—the lighting becomes murky, and the tension of the man in the coat gives way to the fatigue of the digital monster.
Cramming Two Classics Into One Night
Here lies the film’s most controversial decision: it adapts Resident Evil (1996) and Resident Evil 2 (1998) simultaneously. The plot follows Claire Redfield (Kaya Scodelario) returning to Raccoon City to warn her brother, Chris (Robbie Amell), about the sinister Umbrella Corporation. Simultaneously, rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy (Avan Jogia) shows up for his first day on the job, just as the dormant "T-Virus" spills out of the mysterious Spencer Mansion and into the city’s orphanage and sewers.
For the uninitiated, this is chaos. Characters teleport from the police station to the mansion to the underground lab within minutes. The intricate, branching puzzles of the games are reduced to a frantic montage of "we need a keycard" and "look, a crest." The plot doesn't breathe; it hyperventilates. Key antagonists—like the mutated giant serpent or the Plant 42—appear in blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos that serve more as Easter eggs than actual threats.
However, for fans who have spent hundreds of hours navigating these environments, the film’s structure feels like a fever dream speedrun. You know the map. You know the lore. Watching Chris Redfield push a bookshelf to block a door or hearing the ding of a typewriter save room feels less like lazy writing and more like a secret handshake.