How 'Resident Evil: Degeneration' Movie Connects to 'Resident Evil 5'
Our new intern and "Resident Evil" fan Sal Basile recently watched the new CGI film "Resident Evil: Degeneration." Don't feel like watching it yourself? Here's his handy synopsis explaining how it relates to "Resident Evil 5." Take it away Sal...
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[Editor's note: This summary contains spoilers for "Resident Evil: Degeneration."]
"Resident Evil"'s new movie, the CGI spin-off "Degeneration," is a true prequel to "Resident Evil 5." Set between the events of "Resident Evil 4" and "Resident Evil 5," this CGI film offers fans of the series just enough information to hold them over until the "RE5"'s March release. The movie even concludes with a cameo by Tricell, the already confirmed enemy corporation of "RE5." Gamers who are looking for back story on "RE5" can expect to see many features of "Degeneration" in the game.
The "Resident Evil" series has always featured Umbrella, the deviant, faceless corporation that has led my favorite characters through zombie-filled waters. In the CGI movie, however, a corporation named WilPharma is the new enemy. WilPharma has taken over Umbrella's research with the façade that all research is focused primarily on finding a cure for the T-Virus. But the company begins conducting human research in India, and exposing people to the T-Virus in order to "test the vaccine" it was working on. This sparked the protest of the company by several anti-terrorism groups including Terra-Save, an organization Claire Redfield is currently a part of.
The Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance, or BSAA, is the anti-terrorism group Chris Redfield is employed by in "Resident Evil 5." It is shown to be a much more aggressive group than the one his sister works for. In the CGI film, Terra-Save peacefully protests WilPharma, but the BSAA is sent in to stop Tricell by any means necessary in "RE 5." But what is Tricell and how has a brand new corporation inherited Umbrella's legacy?
The CGI movie reveals the origins of the new sinister corporation. WilPharma researcher and ex-Umbrella researcher, Frederick Downing, began looking for a buyer for the T-Virus and G-Virus in order to keep WilPharma from going bankrupt. Downing acquired these viruses while working for Umbrella before the company collapsed. He found a buyer in General Miguel Grande, head of the Republic of Nagiri in India and supporter of terrorism, which is why WilPharma purposely infected civilians in India. It is revealed WilPharma was not testing the cure in India, but using the infected as a sales pitch to General Grande to sell the virus. India, being quite close to the "RE5" location of Kijuju in Africa, could be the link between the game and film.
Downing is arrested by Leon before he can sell the virus. This leads to the complete downfall of WilPharma. By the end of the CGI film, however, Tricell is seen purchasing WilPharma, inheriting all of WilPharma's research, projects and contacts, including General Grande. Scientists wearing biohazard suits with the Tricell logo on them are looking through the debris of the damaged WilPharma building. One of these scientists locates a talon from a G-Virus bio-weapon and puts it in a container, foreshadowing Tricell's continuation of WilPharma's Bio-Weapon research.
The movie raises questions that are sure to be answered in "Resident Evil 5." Will Tricell sell the viruses to General Grande? Who is the President of Tricell? How could Tricell, a brand new company, purchase another so quickly after being formed? How does the virus make its way from India to Africa? Only speculation can answer these questions until the release of "RE5."
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