5 Ways ‘Resident Evil’ Aged Poorly (And 5 Ways It Aged Masterfully)

‘Resident Evil’ kicked off a long run of zombie action on the big screen. It mixed survival horror, gunfights, and a new lead character named Alice. The story follows a team sent into the Umbrella Corporation’s underground lab called the Hive. A virus gets loose. Everything goes wrong.

The film made strong money and began a full series of sequels. It also stood out for its harsh electronic score and a few bold set pieces, like the laser hallway. Some parts hold up well today. Others feel stuck in their time.

CGI Creature Work — Aged Poorly

The Licker creature is a mix of practical work and digital animation. On modern screens, many shots look rubbery and flat. The movement lacks weight in close-ups.

Wide shots help, but the switch between practical and CGI is easy to spot. It pulls you out of the moment, especially in the train fight.

Milla Jovovich’s Lead Turn — Aged Masterfully

Milla Jovovich gives the film a clear center. She trained hard and performed most of her stunts, and you can tell. The action feels more real when the camera stays on her.

Alice also became a lasting action hero. Her presence helped carry the series through many sequels.

Faithfulness to the Games — Aged Poorly

The movie builds its own path. It borrows names and monsters but tells a new story in the Hive with an amnesiac lead. Many game fans wanted the mansion plot and core cast from the early titles.

That choice feels even more distant now that later screen versions tried to stick closer to the games. The film’s story works on its own, but it does not scratch that faithful-adaptation itch.

The Laser Corridor Set Piece — Aged Masterfully

The laser hallway still hits. The setup is clean. The rules are clear. The payoff is brutal and unforgettable.

It is simple, tense, and easy to follow. That clarity makes it one of the most cited moments from the whole series.

Early-2000s Sound and Style — Aged Poorly

The soundtrack leans hard into industrial and nu-metal. It locked the movie to a very specific era. Today, those needle drops can feel dated, even if you like the songs.

The electronic score can be harsh and busy in quieter scenes. In places, it smothers tension instead of building it.

Practical Dogs and Makeup — Aged Masterfully

The zombie dogs still look great. Real animals with prosthetics create a nasty, tactile threat that holds up far better than early CGI.

The makeup and gore are also effective. The close-quarters hive corridors and grim labs sell the outbreak without needing flashy tricks.

Exposition-Heavy Writing — Aged Poorly

Characters explain systems and backstory a lot. The Red Queen scenes dump rules and timers in big chunks. It slows the pace.

Some dialogue is stiff. Jokes miss. It makes several scenes feel like setup instead of story.

Brisk Pacing and Clear Stakes — Aged Masterfully

The mission is simple: get in, survive, get out before time runs out. That keeps the movie moving and easy to track.

There is a good balance of fights, chases, and small reveals. Even on a rewatch, you do not wait long between set pieces.

On-Screen Tech and Interfaces — Aged Poorly

The Hive computers, security feeds, and holograms look basic now. The interfaces feel like early desktop skins rather than real systems.

The Red Queen visuals are also dated. The effect is iconic, but the render quality shows its age.

A Franchise-Starting Impact — Aged Masterfully

Whatever its flaws, the film started a durable screen legacy. It led to multiple sequels, a reboot, and other spin-offs.

That staying power matters. The movie helped prove that game adaptations could find a wide audience and return strong box office.

Share your own ‘Resident Evil’ highs and lows below—what aged worst, and what still rules the Hive today?