Resident Evil
The Netflix original series "Resident Evil" (2022) is an action-horror adaptation of the popular video game franchise, presenting a dual timeline narrative set in 2022 and 2036. The series explores a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombie-like creatures known as "Zeroes," alongside the corporate machinations of the Umbrella Corporation. It delves into themes of corporate greed, family secrets, and survival in a world devastated by a viral outbreak. Targeting an adult audience, the show features significant violence, mature language, and intense horror elements consistent with the Resident Evil brand. The plot follows the Wesker sisters, Jade and Billie, as they navigate the challenges of New Raccoon City in the past and struggle to survive and uncover truths in the future.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe series features graphic and frequent violence, including visceral attacks by zombie-like creatures, explicit gore, and human deaths. The depiction of violence is central to the horror genre, showing mutated creatures and the aftermath of brutal encounters.
Examples include a scene where a character is explicitly eaten by multiple zombies after being ambushed from a bridge. There are also instances of zombies being shot and dismembered in a bloody fashion. Another scene depicts a giant mutated spider attacking and killing a character's father in a flooded tunnel.
Profanity
HighThe series contains strong language, including frequent use of expletives, contributing to its adult rating. Characters use profanity in tense and confrontational situations.
The Wesker family is noted for uttering "multiple 'F' bombs" throughout the series. In one instance, during a high school cafeteria confrontation, Billie Wesker 'flips her off' at another girl who is picking a fight with her.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series is a horror production with consistently scary and intense content, including jump scares, grotesque creature designs, and suspenseful survival scenarios. It features terrifying mutated monsters and a pervasive sense of dread in its post-apocalyptic setting.
The series introduces 'Lickers,' which are described as 'especially scary' as they hunt silently from shadows and ambush victims. Another terrifying creature is 'Mother Zero,' a gruesome zombie capable of mind control and emitting blood-curdling screams. The narrative frequently involves life-threatening encounters with these creatures, such as a convoy being attacked by Lickers.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe series includes clear LGBTQ+ representation with Evelyn Marcus, the CEO of the Umbrella Corporation, being explicitly identified as lesbian and shown in a marital relationship with her wife, Diana. The portrayal integrates her sexual orientation as a characteristic without it being the central focus or a plot device for villainization.
Evelyn Marcus is introduced as the lesbian CEO of the Umbrella Corporation, married to Diana. Their relationship is depicted through various interactions, including a scene of them doing goat yoga together, although physical displays of affection are limited, partly attributed to COVID-19 filming constraints.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic relationships are implied rather than explicitly sexual. While a significant lesbian relationship is present, explicit sexual acts or nudity are not clearly confirmed in detailed accounts of the Netflix series. The show may contain suggestive themes common in adult-oriented horror narratives.
The relationship between Evelyn Marcus and her wife Diana is established, indicating a romantic bond, though specific explicit sexual content is not detailed in reviews. Discussions around the show's suitability for children mention that 'explicit sexual content like nudity or a sex scene would break my threshold,' suggesting a parental concern, but not confirming such scenes exist in the series itself.
Substance Use
MediumThe series depicts drug use in a critical context, particularly involving the Umbrella Corporation's activities. While casual alcohol consumption or smoking by main characters is not prominently detailed, the use of substances for nefarious purposes is shown.
Albert Wesker is shown injecting a character named Angel with a drug that ultimately kills him during an interrogation, highlighting illicit drug administration within the corporate conspiracy storyline.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThemes of disrespect and rebellion are present, particularly among the teenage protagonists. The characters frequently challenge authority figures and exhibit rebellious behavior as part of their development and attempts to uncover corporate secrets.
Jade Wesker is characterized as being "snarky" and exhibiting a "bitchy" attitude towards others. Both Jade and Billie Wesker frequently disobey their father, Albert Wesker, on numerous occasions as they investigate the Umbrella Corporation's activities. In one scene, Billie Wesker displays clear disrespect by flipping off another girl during a school cafeteria dispute.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe 'Resident Evil' franchise, including the Netflix series, primarily operates within a science-fiction framework where horror elements are explained by biological viruses, mutations, and corporate experimentation rather than supernatural or occult forces. No explicit depictions of witchcraft, magic rituals, demons, or occult practices are found in the series.
The core lore of the 'Resident Evil' universe attributes its monsters and horrific events to scientific experiments involving viruses and biological agents, such as the T-virus, which creates the zombie-like 'Zeroes.' The narrative focuses on the Umbrella Corporation's unethical research and its devastating consequences, steering clear of traditional supernatural explanations.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe Netflix series does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. Its horror elements are rooted in science-fiction and biological experimentation rather than religious or supernatural conflict. While some discussions about the broader 'Resident Evil' game franchise mention potentially anti-religious interpretations, there is no evidence of such content in the Netflix series.
The narrative of the 'Resident Evil' Netflix series is focused on a viral outbreak caused by the Umbrella Corporation's bioweapons, making its central conflict scientific and corporate, not religious. There are no reported instances of characters mocking Christian beliefs, depicting sacrilegious acts against Christian symbols, or promoting anti-Christian messages within the series itself.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Recommended for ages 18+ due to frequent graphic violence, gore, intense horror themes, mature language, and suggestive content. The series has received an 18 rating in the UK, indicating content suitable only for adults, and parental discussions frequently highlight its unsuitability for younger viewers.
Additional Notes
The single season of the Netflix 'Resident Evil' series, released in 2022, consists of 8 episodes ranging from 45 to 62 minutes. While the series aims to honor the video game canon by integrating elements like the T-virus and familiar monsters, it also forges its own path with original characters and storylines. Parents should be aware that the series maintains the franchise's dark tone and graphic nature, making it unsuitable for younger audiences despite featuring teenage protagonists in parts of its narrative.
Related Reviews
Is Resident Evil right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required