20140321: Horror Review--Resident Evil: Damnation

Resident Evil: Damnation

1. Fundamentals, reception.
1. Japanese animated feature length film, 2012, rated R, 100 minutes, horror.
2. IMDB: 6.5/10.0 from 10,748 audience ratings.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: 'No score yet...' and 74% liked it from 1,654 audience ratings.
4. I watched this on Crackle.
5. Directed by: Makoto Kamiya.
6. Starring: Matthew Mercer as Leon S. Kennedy, Dave Wittenberg as Buddy/Sasha, Wendee Lee as Svetlana Belikova, Val Tasso as JD, Robin Sachs as Ataman, Courtenay Taylor as Ada Wong.


2. Setup and Plot
1. This is animation via 3d modelling tools coupled with recording of live actions.  Looks wonderful; better, in fact, than many live action horror films that I have reviewed lately.


2. The main action takes place in a fictional former Soviet bloc nation, Eastern Slav Republic, that came into existence after the fall of the USSR.  The film follows an American agent, Leon S. Kennedy, who goes rogue during the continuing civil war in ESR.  The rumour that Leon wants to check out is whether or not the rebel forces in the civil war are using BOWs (Bio Organic Weapons).  Leon encounters a BOW almost immediately.


3. President Svetlana brings in Ada Wong from the BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) to look into the allegations.  By themselves, the BOW are useless (attack friend and foe alike), but if a plaga is applied, control can be asserted.  Sounds tricky.  Leon needs to get some sort of evidence of all this.  So does Ada Wong.


4. The things that look like zombies walking around in Eastern Europe seem to be humans enslaved by plaga attaching themselves to spinal cords.  Great.  I was expected a high quality zombie film, and got a no zombie film.


5. Will Leon or Ada get the evidence they needed?  Will the ESR survive as a country?


3. Conclusions
1. One line summary: Amazing animation accomplishment; not so amazing plot.
2. Three stars of five.


4. Scores
1. Art/Animation: 10/10 Exceptional; I'd like to give it a 73 out of 10, but 10 is tops.  Most of the film looks great.  Loved the fight sequences between Ada Wong and President Svetlana.


2. Sound: 8/10 Sound leveling could be better.  Going from fight-action music to/from conversation is a disaster.


3. Voice Acting: 7/10 This varies a lot.  Matthew Mercer, Wendee Lee, and Courtenay Taylor were good. Val Tasso was mighty irritating.  Most of the others were competent.


4. Story: 4/10 Wow. Terrible dialog in so many places.  Is this a civil war film, a zombie film,  an east vs west film, a biohazard film?  The connections to Resident Evil seem weak.