Viewed the George A. Romero Resident Evil Documentary, Leaving Me With More Puzzling Questions
George A. Romero, the visionary director behind the groundbreaking zombie film "Night of the Living Dead," once had plans to bring his unique style to the Resident Evil franchise. However, his vision never materialized, leaving fans and critics to wonder what could have been.
Romero's proposed adaptation was set to be a more faithful, violent, and gruesome interpretation of the original game, incorporating elements from Resident Evil 2 and 3. With a tone likely to earn an X rating due to its gore, it promised to be a dark, thematically rich, and genuinely terrifying survival horror movie.
However, Constantin Film, the production company that has held the film rights to the Resident Evil franchise for nearly 30 years, was not pleased with Romero's vision. They reportedly felt that the level of violence and tone were not suitable for the franchise. As a result, Romero was fired from the project before production began, and it was eventually directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
Anderson's adaptation was considered less faithful and less well-received by fans of the games. The Resident Evil film franchise that followed, starting in 2002, prioritized action over horror and was generally criticized for being loose adaptations.
Romero's dismissal from the project is now seen as a lost opportunity for a more critically respected and authentic representation of the Resident Evil franchise. Had his adaptation been made, it might have set a different tone for the franchise and for video game-to-film adaptations more broadly.
Fans and critics speculate that Romero’s take could have elevated video game adaptations by adhering more closely to source material and delivering quality horror that influenced the genre beyond typical commercial adaptations.
The potential impact of Romero's adaptation on the horror genre was significant. As a pioneering figure in zombie cinema, Romero's work on Night of the Living Dead reshaped horror with social relevance and visceral shock value. His involvement might have resulted in a game-changer continuing his legacy in zombie horror.
Despite the lost opportunity, Romero went on to write and direct the 2000 horror film "Bruiser." Meanwhile, since the start of the 21st century, a significant portion of Paul W.S. Anderson's work has been centered around the Resident Evil franchise.
As we look to the future, Zach Cregger is planning to restart the Resident Evil franchise with a new adaptation. It remains to be seen whether it will reach the levels of success of Paul W.S. Anderson's six-film series.
In conclusion, George A. Romero's Resident Evil project remains a "what if" in horror and video game film history. His vision for the franchise, with its potential for a darker, more thematically rich, and genuinely terrifying survival horror movie, continues to be a topic of curiosity and respect among fans and critics alike.
| Aspect | Romero’s Planned Adaptation | Actual Franchise Impact | |----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Faithfulness to Source | Mostly faithful to the first game with added elements from 2 & 3 | Loosely based, prioritized action over horror | | Tone and Style | Gore-heavy, dark, potentially X-rated; intense horror with thematic depth | More commercial, action-oriented | | Horror Genre Influence | Potentially a game-changer continuing Romero’s legacy in zombie horror | Mixed; franchise popular but critically divisive | | Franchise Reception | Fans speculate positive cult status and critical appreciation | Fans split; noted for entertainment but criticized for poor adaptation |
- George A. Romero's planned adaptation of the Resident Evil franchise would have offered a 'daily blend' of gore, thematic depth, and social relevance, significantly contributing to the 'pop-culture' discourse on zombie horror, much like his groundbreaking work in 'Night of the Living Dead'.
- Had Romero's vision been realized, the Resident Evil film franchise might have become a staple in the 'movies-and-tv' landscape, dominating the 'box office' and setting a new standard for video game adaptations, challenging the norms of commercial storytelling.
- The 'sci-fi-and-fantasy' community, especially those interested in horror, continues to hold Romero's unrealized Resident Evil project in high regard as it presents an opportunity for a unique, innovative, and critically acclaimed story within the genre, a lost 'what if' in the annals of horror entertainment.
