Films & Resident Evil
So far I have covered the history of Resident Evil, established
it roots firmly in Japan but also realised the large amount of Western
influences the game has. I covered Alone in the Dark for in game visual
comparisons, a game that is undoubtedly one of the biggest game to influences
resident evil and found some interesting screen shots that show just how
similar the games are.
I now plan to cover films. Across my studies I have found out
that George A. Romero's “Dead” series was a heavy influence on Resident Evil as
well as classics such as the Alien series.
George A. Romero is known as “the Godfather of Zombies” and his
series of “Dead” films
(Night of the Living Dead,
1968, Dawn of the Dead, 1978, Day of the Dead, 1985, Land of the Dead, 2005, Diary of the Dead, 2007, Survival of the Dead, 2010).
George A. Romero was so influential of the Resident Evil series
that he was contracted in to work on a series of live action TV commercial
trailers for the games. He states in the video that he was really happy to be
working on a project for Resident Evil (all be it BIOHAZARD second, not the
first game which
I am focusing on) and this was because he felt special knowing he had some sort
of influence on the genre of the game (referring to his “Dead” series of
films).
George A. Romero & his TV advert for Resident Evil 2
Examples of George A. Romero’s & Resident
Evil Zombies
Romero's Zombies
Resident Evil's Zombies
Common Zombie Elements in Western & Eastern Media
• Blood stained
clothes and appearance
• Skin colour is worn
and ill looking
• When not in an
“action” stance, the zombies are often limping due to injury or slouched in a
walk cycle with t heir arms stereotypically raised out in front of them
To conclude this section of my research, I have decided to confirm that, from my findings, it is clearly evident that Resident Evil has taken influence from American “godfather of zombies” George A. Romero and his films.
To conclude this section of my research, I have decided to confirm that, from my findings, it is clearly evident that Resident Evil has taken influence from American “godfather of zombies” George A. Romero and his films.
The point to make is how a company of Japanese game developers
used a series of American made films to influence their horror game.
Linking back to what Romero said in the video about how he was
originally influenced by the horror films of the 1940’s and 50’s I thought it
might be a good idea to put a visual comparison in for the films to Resident
Evil so that you can see the clear influences Resident Evil took from others.
I looked up “1950’s Zombie Films” on www.google.com and managed to find a film from 1959 with the use of
the slow moving, cumbersome zombies seen in the original Resident Evil as well
as Romero’s films.
You can see just how the zombies are portrayed in this film by
its poster art/DVD cover. It’s the classic hands stretched out in front,
discoloured skin “braaaaaains” type of zombie which is exactly what Romero uses
in his Dead series and just like the zombies in Resident Evil.
Although I just simply don’t have the time in my presentation
to show this video clip, you can clearly see that the zombies are portrayed as
being slow and scary, maybe this is how Resident Evil got its horror influences
for its zombies to be scary in a similar fashion?
Making a Visual Connection
To sum up this research into the horror of zombies and how it
originated and became influential within Resident Evil I think it would be
appropriate to show one image from each of the influential times I referred too
(1950’s, Romero “Dead” series & Resident Evil).
Teenage Zombies, 1959
image from: http://zombiehall.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/teenage-zombies.html
George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead, 1985
Resident Evil 1, 1996
images from: http://www.giantbomb.com/dear-diary-today-i-turned-into-a-zombie/92-3020/ & http://blog.emptylemon.co.uk/2012/04/top-games-90s/
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