Just when you thought things couldn’t get more ridiculousthan 2002’s Resident Evil, here come the follow-ups: Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004, d. Alexander Witt) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007. d. Russell Mulcahy). These films are a giant mess of a horror/sci-fi/action carnival ride, the kind you know you shouldn’t trust with your life but you ride anyway. While we are introduced to more characters from the video games and treated to more scenes from the same, the overall plot of the franchise fully becomes its own thing by the end of Extinction. The world has become a desert (somehow), Umbrella Pharmaceutical’s test subject Alice has become a telekinetic super soldier (somehow), and Jill Valentine and Claire Redfield are also there (blessedly).

It’s over-the-top and ludicrous, and honestly, I have been loving every minute of it. In fact, I can’t wait until next week when I tackle parts 4-6. Bring on the Alice army! Maybe she’ll save this barren world..and with any luck, the rest of us as well.