What Is Resident Evil: Retribution About?
The premise of Resident Evil: Retribution in 258 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world teetering on the edge of collapse, hidden outposts of the once‑omnipresent Umbrella Corporation pulse with secret activity while the surface is scarred by a sweeping, almost biblical, pandemic. The atmosphere is a tense mix of sleek, high‑tech confinement and the stark, desolate remnants of major cities—bright neon corridors of Tokyo clash with the ghostly ruins of Washington, D.C. The tone is relentless and gritty, blending pulse‑pounding action with an undercurrent of desperate survival as humanity clings to the thin thread of hope left behind.
Alice awakens within this clandestine facility, disoriented yet driven by an instinctual need to uncover the forces that sparked the global catastrophe. With fragments of her past slowly resurfacing, she becomes both hunter and seeker, propelled across continents by a relentless quest to track down those behind the apocalypse. The journey promises a visual contrast: the bustling, neon‑lit streets of a re‑animated Tokyo and the eerie, wind‑blown corridors of a shattered capital, each locale echoing the struggle between order and chaos.
Along the way, Alice encounters a cast of new companions whose skills and motives intertwine with her own. Their uneasy alliances form the backbone of a fragile resistance, pitting human ingenuity against the inexorable tide of relentless undead. The film balances kinetic combat with moments of introspection, as relationships forge in the shadows of ruin and every step forward feels like a gamble with fate. As the stakes rise, the battle becomes not just for survival, but for a chance to reclaim what was lost in the world’s darkest hour.
What Happens in Resident Evil: Retribution?
The complete story of Resident Evil: Retribution, from the first scene to the last, in 856 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In this thrilling fifth installment of the Resident Evil franchise, the narrative picks up immediately following the events of Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010). Our protagonist, Alice (played by Milla Jovovich), along with her companions, finds themselves under siege aboard the Umbrella Corporation freighter, Arcadia. This attack is orchestrated by a formidable fleet of airships led by Alice’s former ally, Jill Valentine (portrayed by Sienna Guillory), who has been ruthlessly brainwashed by Umbrella through a scarab device attached to her chest. As the Umbrella soldiers wreak havoc on the freighter, Alice retaliates with gunfire, successfully shooting down one of the airships, which ultimately crashes into Arcadia. This violent collision triggers a massive explosion, knocking her unconscious and into the water, leaving the fates of Chris, Claire, K-Mart, and the others aboard in suspense.
The storyline takes an unexpected turn as we transition to a suburban life where an apparent version of Alice seems to be living peacefully with her husband, Todd (Oded Fehr), and their deaf daughter, Becky (Aryana Engineer). However, their blissful existence is violently shattered by a zombie onslaught, revealing their suburb is actually a contaminated Raccoon City. In the chaos, Alice and Becky manage to escape to the streets, where they are picked up by a student named Rain Ocampo (played by Michelle Rodriguez). Unfortunately, their escape is cut short when a truck collides with their vehicle, rendering Rain unconscious while Alice and Becky flee. Tragically, Alice’s attempt to protect Becky leads her to be killed by Todd, who has now turned into a zombie.
The original Alice soon awakens in captivity, where she finds herself interrogated by Jill. Despite Alice’s efforts to jog Jill’s memory and learn about her friends, her attempts are futile. Amid a power outage, Alice seizes the opportunity to escape her cell, navigating through a laser grid and finding herself in Shibuya Square just as the contamination in Tokyo begins. Battling her way out, she eventually returns to the facility, coming face-to-face with Ada Wong (Bingbing Li), a high-ranking agent working for Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts). Ada informs her that they no longer operate under Umbrella’s command, revealing that the Red Queen, reactivated after The Hive’s contamination, now wields control over Umbrella.
In a startling revelation, Ada delves into the depths of Umbrella’s operations, explaining that the organization, once designed to produce the T-Virus at their Kamchatka, Russia base, used their facilities to create clones and simulate outbreaks to demonstrate the effects of the virus, all while profiting immensely from the chaos. To aid Alice and Ada’s escape, Wesker assembles a freelance team including Leon S. Kennedy (Johann Urb), Barry Burton (Kevin Durand), and Luther West (Boris Kodjoe). Their mission involves planting explosives around the base’s entrance, set to detonate in two hours, thereby sealing the fate of anyone still inside.
As Alice and Ada navigate a simulated New York City, they battle hostile creatures, prompting the Red Queen to send Jill to eliminate them. Simultaneously, Leon and his team encounter zombies in a Moscow simulation, intensifying the precarious situation. The duo soon enters the suburban simulation where they discover a chilling truth: Becky and the previous “suburban Alice” are clones, part of Umbrella’s ongoing experiments. Despite this shocking revelation, Alice forms a deep bond with Becky, which fuels her determination to protect her.
Faced with Jill and her mercenaries—clones of Alice’s fallen allies, including a malevolent version of Rain and Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr)—Alice is compelled to surrender for Becky’s safety. However, Ada ignites a chaotic shootout, providing Alice a narrow escape with Becky. The duo ultimately reunites with the “good” Rain, racing towards the Moscow simulation and encountering Leon’s team. Their frantic escape escalates as they are ambushed by an Uber-Licker, which captures Becky and kills “good” Rain. In a desperate move, Alice pursues the creature and must confront the painful realities of their situation.
In a harrowing climax, as they reach a cloning facility, Alice and Becky come across copies of themselves. When Becky questions her mother’s identity, Alice reassuringly responds, “I am now.” The Uber-Licker’s relentless pursuit culminates in an explosive encounter that floods the facility, but Alice and Becky manage to evade disaster by utilizing the ventilation system.
Awaiting extraction, the group is blindsided by a Soviet submarine, where once again, Jill and the malevolent Rain appear, given orders to eliminate Alice. Rain, now enhanced by the Las Plagas parasite for superhuman capabilities, wreaks havoc, overcoming her adversaries. In a fierce showdown, Alice successfully destroys the scarab device controlling Jill, restoring her to her former self yet retaining her memories. The battle takes tragic turns, resulting in casualties on both sides.
In a dramatic turn of events, Alice, Ada, Becky, Leon, and Jill make their way to Wesker’s heavily fortified base—the White House, rudimentarily protected by S.T.A.R.S. and the remaining U.S. Marines. Here, they face a dire reality as Wesker injects Alice with the T-Virus, reviving her formidable powers. The story unfolds to reveal that the Red Queen’s sinister intent is to annihilate humanity, marking this confrontation as humanity’s final stronghold against the impending doom brought forth by the T-virus and its monstrous creations.
Resident Evil: Retribution Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Siege of Arcadia” to “Humanity's Last Stand”. 14 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Siege of Arcadia
The film opens with Alice and her companions under siege aboard the Umbrella Corporation freighter, Arcadia. This assault is led by Jill Valentine, who has been brainwashed by Umbrella, forcing Alice to fight back against the attacking airships.
Where:Arcadia
- 2
Crash and Explosion
Alice manages to shoot down one of the attacking airships, which crashes into the freighter. This collision triggers a massive explosion, resulting in Alice being knocked unconscious and plunged into the water, leaving her allies' fates uncertain.
Where:Arcadia
- 3
Life in Suburbia
The scene shifts to a seemingly peaceful suburban life where an apparent version of Alice lives with her husband Todd and their deaf daughter Becky. However, their idyllic existence is soon shattered by a sudden zombie onslaught, exposing their home as a contaminated Raccoon City.
Where:Raccoon City
- 4
Escape Attempt
Amidst the chaos, Alice and Becky attempt to escape the suburb with the help of a student named Rain Ocampo. Unfortunately, their escape vehicle is abruptly struck by a truck, leaving Rain unconscious while Alice and Becky flee for their lives.
Where:Raccoon City
- 5
Todd's Transformation
In a tragic turn of events, Alice's efforts to protect Becky culminate in a heartbreaking confrontation with Todd, who has turned into a zombie. Despite her attempts to save him, Alice is forced to flee as Todd attacks and kills her.
Where:Raccoon City
- 6
Alice Awakens in Captivity
Alice later awakens in a confinement facility, where she is interrogated by Jill, who fails to remember their past. During this time, Alice tries to reconnect with Jill but is unsuccessful, leaving her trapped and desperate for escape.
Where:Umbrella Facility
- 7
Laser Grid Escape
As a power outage occurs, Alice seizes her chance to escape from her cell. She navigates through a deadly laser grid and finds herself in Shibuya Square, just as the contamination begins to spread throughout Tokyo.
Where:Shibuya Square, Tokyo
- 8
Meeting Ada Wong
In her quest for freedom, Alice encounters Ada Wong, a high-ranking agent now operating independently from Umbrella. Ada reveals the reactivation of the Red Queen, which now controls Umbrella's operations and plans.
Where:Umbrella Facility
- 9
Clone Revelation
Alice and Ada discover the shocking truth about Umbrella's experiments; Becky and the previous suburban Alice are clones. This revelation ignites a strong bond between Alice and Becky, compelling Alice to protect her at all costs.
Where:Simulation Facility
- 10
Confrontation with Jill
Alice faces off against Jill and her mercenaries, who are clones of Alice's old allies. In a tense standoff, Alice chooses to surrender for Becky's safety, but Ada intervenes, allowing a narrow escape amid chaos.
Where:Simulation Facility
Show the other 5 events of Resident Evil: Retribution Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Uber-Licker Attack
As they race towards safety, Alice and her team are ambushed by an Uber-Licker, a terrifying creature that captures Becky and kills the 'good' Rain. In a desperate bid to save her daughter, Alice pursues the creature through the facility.
Where:Underground Facility
- 12
Cloning Facility
Upon reaching the cloning facility, Alice and Becky discover copies of themselves. This leads to an emotional moment where Alice reassures Becky of her identity, just as they prepare to deal with the imminent threat posed by the Uber-Licker.
Where:Cloning Facility
- 13
Final Showdown at the White House
The story's climax takes place at Wesker's fortified base, the White House, where Alice is injected with the T-Virus to revive her powers. This confrontation with Wesker and his forces becomes humanity's last stand against the T-virus and its ensuing chaos.
Where:The White House
- 14
Restoring Jill
In a fierce battle, Alice manages to destroy the scarab device controlling Jill, restoring her former self. However, the skirmish results in losses on both sides, complicating their fight against the overwhelming odds.
Where:The White House
- 15
Humanity's Last Stand
As the Red Queen reveals her intention to annihilate humanity, Alice, Ada, Becky, Leon, and Jill prepare for the ultimate fight. This battle signifies a critical moment in the fight for survival against the monstrous creations unleashed by the T-virus.
Who Are the Main Characters in Resident Evil: Retribution?
5 characters, among them Alice (Milla Jovovich), Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory) and Becky (Aryana Engineer): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 3 of them link to the actor’s page.
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Alice (Milla Jovovich)
Played by Milla Jovovich
Alice is a fierce and determined protagonist, showcasing resilience in the fight against the Umbrella Corporation. Her morally gray decisions reflect her desires to protect her loved ones, especially her daughter Becky. Visibly scarred by past traumas, she evolves into a symbol of hope and strength amidst the apocalyptic chaos.
- 👩🎤 Hero
- 💪 Strength
- 📖 Determination
-
Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory)
Played by Sienna Guillory
Once an ally, Jill's character arc is tragically transformed by Umbrella's brainwashing, turning her into a formidable antagonist. Despite this, her internal struggle and previous bond with Alice indicate the complexity of her character. Jill's fight against her own manipulation adds depth to her storyline.
- 🧠 Brainwashed
- 🥊 Fighter
- 💔 Conflict
- B(
Becky (Aryana Engineer)
Becky is depicted as a vulnerable yet brave child, representing innocence amidst the chaos. Her bond with Alice drives the emotional core of the narrative, motivating Alice's every action. Becky's survival instincts and adaptability reveal a strength beyond her years, making her a key player in the fight for survival.
- 👶 Innocence
- ❤️ Family
- 🥷 Courage
-
Rain Ocampo (Michelle Rodriguez)
Played by Michelle Rodriguez
Rain embodies strength and loyalty, initially presented as a companion yet ultimately facing tragic consequences. Her character reflects the harsh realities of the team's struggles, amplifying the emotional weight of their battles. Rain's sacrifice and the dual nature of her character add layers to the narrative.
- 💣 Warrior
- ⚔️ Loyalty
- 🥀 Sacrifice
- AW
Ada Wong (Bingbing Li)
Ada is introduced as a high-ranking agent with her own agenda, navigating the complexities of her loyalty to Alice while revealing vital information. Her enigmatic nature and combat skills add intrigue to the plot, while her partnership with Alice emphasizes the theme of camaraderie in trying times.
- 🕵️♀️ Agent
- 🎭 Mystery
- ⚡ Strategy
Where and When Is Resident Evil: Retribution Set?
Resident Evil: Retribution is set in Arcadia, Raccoon City, Shibuya Square, New York City, Moscow, White House. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
Though the film does not specify an exact time period, it is set in a post-apocalyptic context stemming from the events of the previous installment. The collapse of civilization due to the T-Virus and the subsequent struggle against overwhelming odds creates a sense of urgency and despair, characteristic of modern-day dystopian narratives.
Where
Arcadia, Raccoon City, Shibuya Square, New York City, Moscow, White House
The film features multiple locations, starting aboard the Arcadia, a freighter belonging to the Umbrella Corporation. The story also emphasizes the suburban setting, which is revealed to be in the contaminated Raccoon City. Key scenes take place in iconic urban environments like Shibuya Square and simulate major cities including New York City and Moscow, reflecting the film's overarching themes of survival amidst chaos. The dramatic climax unfolds at the White House, presenting it as humanity's final stronghold.
- 🏙️ City
- ⚔️ Battleground
- 🌍 Global
What Are the Themes of Resident Evil: Retribution?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Sacrifice and Survival.
-
01
Identity
A central theme in the movie revolves around identity, particularly through the experiences of Alice and clones. The revelation that Alice's suburban life is a simulation adds complexity to her identity. As Alice confronts numerous clones of herself and others, the struggle for self-definition amidst chaos underscores the emotional weight of the story.
-
02
Sacrifice
Sacrifice plays a pivotal role in the film, highlighted by the choices Alice makes to protect Becky and confront former allies. The emotional toll of these sacrifices manifests when Alice must confront her zombie husband to save her daughter. These actions underscore the theme of parental love and the harsh realities of survival in a world overrun by horror.
-
03
Survival
Survival against insurmountable odds is a prevalent theme, illustrated by Alice's relentless fight against both Umbrella and its monstrous creations. The film depicts various intense battles, emphasizing resilience and the human spirit in the face of overwhelming threats. This theme resonates throughout the narratives of both Alice and the cloned characters as they navigate life-threatening situations.
What Kind of Film Is Resident Evil: Retribution?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A relentlessly fast-paced and high-intensity action-horror experience set in a bleak post-apocalyptic world, characterized by constant threats, desperate survival, and psychological tension.
- claustrophobic
- anxious
- relentless
- desperate
- bleak
- action-packed
- post-apocalypse
- survival
- genetic engineering
- clone identity
Content notes: zombie violence, child endangerment, brainwashing, body horror, apocalyptic themes.
Quiz
How well do you remember Resident Evil: Retribution? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Resident Evil: Retribution
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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