When it comes to horror franchises, very few names ring as clear as Resident Evil. I’m not just talking about video games, that pioneered zombie horror in gaming, but the novels, comics, 3D films and live-action Hollywood movies! Thus, there’s plenty to talk about. But today, I’m going to be discussing Paul W.S. Anderson‘s Resident Evil (2002), focusing on the colorful characters.
The Resident Evil film series was profitable, making over 1.3 billion at the box office worldwide, meaning that everybody loved it, right? Not quite! Anderson’s Resident Evil films polarized fans. Some loved the creative interpretation and the artistic liberties taken. Others thought that they didn’t represent the games properly and were downright silly. Whatever side you lean towards, I’m just happy you’re here, reading this right now! Why? Because I fall under the former, and I genuinelly enjoy the Hollywood Resident Evil films, even though they are flawed. Maybe it’s the Milla Jovovich effect? Perhaps it’s the intriguing cast of characters? Who knows, it could be that I just love Resident Evil.
This is the first of many Resident Evil top lists, so get ready! Today, I’ll focus on the Resident Evil (2002) characters, with Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez among the actors. Thus, it’s time to dive headfirst into the film, and rank the best characters! So I present to you, the 5 greatest Resident Evil (2002) characters!
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5. Spence
Let’s be honest, shall we? Both Matt Addison and Spence Parks are very forgettable characters, serving only to further the storyline, without an ounce of personality. It’s one of these situations where I have to pick the best of the worst, and thus, I’ll go for Spence Parks.
James Purefoy put up a better performance than Eric Mabius. While he barely had anything to work with, he still managed to play the good guy one moment and the bad guy the next. Thus, I feel like Purefoy did enough to make the list. But he’s only getting the 5th spot on my list of the best Resident Evil (2002) characters.
4. Kaplan
When it comes to realistic behavior and character relatability, look no further than Kaplan, who’s portrayed by Martin Crewes!
Kaplan is essentially the viewer at home, meaning that he represents the “real human”, and how one would act in a terrifying situation at The Hive. While he’s undoubtedly overplaying his hand to a certain extent, Martin’s emotional performance and relatable reaction to zombies makes him very relatable. In turn, Kaplan is used as a tool to ground the viewer, and show us that not all humanity is lost in this sickening scenario.
3. One (James Shade)
Colin Salmon‘s Role in Resident Evil (2002) might be minor, but One is a commanding character with a memorable personality. And let’s not forget that his death is legendary in the horror movie spectrum!
Whenever we see James Shade on the screen, he’s captivating. Whether it’s his body language or his line delivery, he’s an engaging character to follow. In turn, he’s among the most believable characters in the Resident Evil film series, and that’s saying a lot, isn’t it? While we might have a different opinion on James Shade, I’m sure we can all agree that he’s one of the best parts of the first Resident Evil film.
2. Rain
Right after wrapping up The Fast & The Furious in 2001, Michelle Rodriguez followed it up with another great performance, playing Rain in Resident Evil (2002). While it’s difficult to imagine her schedule, it’s impressive that an up-and-coming actress would land two great roles within 2 years.
Michelle Rodriguez has a signature style when it comes to acting, and she’s often cast as tough and badass characters, and Rain is no different! She’s the muscle of James Shade’s team, and she’s a quick-witted badass who makes plenty of snarky comments. In turn, you’re either gonna love her or hate her, which is the case with most Michelle Rodriguez-played characters. However, I absolutely love her portrayal of Rain.
The only real problem with Rain is that her character is never explored, which is the case with all characters in the James Shade team. In turn, we’re left with a rather shallow character, who’s an interesting individual. But sadly that’s where it stops. While Michelle Rodriguez does her best to pump life into Rain, with great use of body language and a distinct personality, it’s not enough to take the top spot. Therefore, she’s the second best on my list of the best Resident Evil (2002) characters!
1. Alice
Milla Jovovich made her breakthrough in the industry thanks to The Fifth Element (as Leeloo), but Resident Evil (as Alice) solidified her status in Hollywood. It was at this point, people started turning their heads, realizing that this Ukrainian trailblazer was a really good actress. Thus, it’s not surprising that she’d succeed, and it wasn’t long before she was known worldwide for portraying badass characters. Together with her ability to kick butt and show emotion on the silver screen, the breathtaking Milla Jovovich nailed her role as Alice in Resident Evil (2002).
Alice is a captivating character, with a fantastic look and engaging personality. Considering that she’s dealing with memory loss, it’s intriguing to see Alice change over the course of the movie. However, the character’s red thread is never broken. Thus, we must thank Milla Jovovich for her fantastic portrayal of Alice, as without the right actress, this character wouldn’t have worked. In turn, she’s vital to the success of making Alice believable, and considering the emotional scenes and action sequences, Milla had plenty to deal with it. Let alone, playing a character with some memory loss, and then keeping the personality in-tact all the way through! In turn, I’ll crown Milla Jovovich’s Alice as best character of the best Resident Evil (2002) characters list!
