This Flawed Video Game Adaptation Is A Love Letter To Fans

February 26, 2026 - 00:51

The long-troubled video game adaptation genre has found a surprising, if imperfect, champion in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. This cinematic reboot takes a starkly different path from the previous film series, choosing fidelity to its source material over loose Hollywood reinterpretation.

Director Johannes Roberts crafts a film that feels like a direct love letter to the early PlayStation classics. From the haunting halls of the Spencer Mansion to the rain-slicked streets of the doomed city itself, the production design meticulously recreates iconic locations. The plot weaves together narratives from the first two Resident Evil games, bringing fan-favorite characters like Chris and Claire Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and Jill Valentine together in a shared origin story.

While the film stumbles with a crowded narrative and some uneven pacing, its genuine affection for Capcom’s survival-horror legacy is undeniable. It captures the eerie atmosphere, the campy dialogue, and the visceral terror of the games in a way that feels authentic. This is not a slick, generic action film; it’s a moody, atmospheric horror piece that understands the unsettling appeal of its origins. For fans who have waited decades for a faithful adaptation, Welcome to Raccoon City offers a compelling, if flawed, homecoming.