Humanity is on its last legs and Alice after being betrayed by Wesker has one last chance to end the Umbrella Corporation's plan of world domination.
With writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson again helming the chair, the alleged sixth and final chapter never manages to recreate the pace, horror hi-jinx or atmosphere of 2002's Resident Evil, yet, tonally The Final Chapter comes closer than any of the meandering stylised sequels.
Anderson (arguably wisely) sidesteps the teased epic fantasy war setting of its predecessor with this instalment set in the aftermath of Retribution. The full-blown war is dropped in favour to feature on a few remaining monsters and focus on the impending infected zombie horde. Anderson borrows George Romero's Dead Reckoning-like vehicle under Dr Isaac's (Iain Glen) control and Alice (Milla Jovovich) must get back to The Hive to release an antivirus and stop the outbreak with help from The Red Queen played notably by Milla/Anderson's very own daughter Ever.
The Final Chapter will appease fans who loved the action orientated sequels but it also goes some way satisfying those who enjoyed the first film. Anderson offers littered Event Horizon and the original Resident Evil's jump scares in the ominous moments. In amongst the edited (faster than the Bourne Identity series put together) imaginative action there's a little character development. Paul Haslinger's pumping synth score is fitting and enhances the action as well as the few and far between quieter moments.
While it's a pity actors Colin Salmon, Michelle Rodriguez and others couldn't return given the stories clone themed story line, Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts) and Ali Larter's Claire Redfield return from previous entries. Both Roberts and Larter both look more at ease here in the mostly darkly lit well crafted sets.
With usual strong screen presence Jovovich is on fine form and the fights are fantastic if a little too frantically paced. Although some aged makeup is below par and the CGI is ropey at times Anderson offers a genuinely surprising twist which delivers a fitting close to the Alice character.
That said, the maker leaves enough room for another horror orientated follow up or overblown 3D actioner - hopefully the latter. Either way it ends the series on a high more rounded note.
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