To understand Degeneration , you must first understand the state of Resident Evil in 2008. Resident Evil 4 (2005) had revolutionized the series with its over-the-shoulder camera and action-oriented combat, leaving behind the fixed angles of the PS1 era. Meanwhile, Resident Evil 5 was in development, promising even more explosive co-op action in Africa. But what happened between those games?
The plot is triggered by a bio-terrorist attack orchestrated by the shadowy organization (a splinter group of the original Veltro, a terrorist faction introduced in the Resident Evil: Revelations timeline, which actually chronologically occurs before Degeneration ). When a passenger arrives on a flight carrying a hidden sample of the T-Virus —still the gold standard of viral apocalypses—the airport quickly becomes a bloody epicenter of the undead. resident evil degeneration -2008-
Reviews were mixed. Fans appreciated the fan-service and canon status but criticized the weak voice acting (with the exception of returning voice actors Paul Mercier as Leon and Alyson Court as Claire) and predictable plot. The film has a 50% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (audience score ~65%). However, it was a commercial success, grossing over $40 million in DVD sales, proving a market for Resident Evil CG films. It paved the way for a trilogy of CG features that now form an essential secondary narrative layer of the franchise. To understand Degeneration , you must first understand
Score: 6.5/10 — Best for series fans; casual viewers may find it serviceable but not essential. But what happened between those games
Upon release, Degeneration received mixed-to-positive reviews.
Marketing materials promised a return to "survival horror," but Degeneration is very much a product of the Resident Evil 4 era. It is neither pure horror nor pure action.