The Resident Evil games? Largely a great time. The Resident Evil films? Eh, not so much. But sometimes the key to quality is keeping things short and sweet. In anticipation of Resident Evil Requiem coming soon, Capcom has released a short film set in its world. Entitled “Evil Has Always Had a Name,” the live action film tells the story of the destruction of Raccoon City from the average person’s perspective.
And who plays this “average person?” The three-minute short features none other than Maika Monroe, herself no stranger to horror films. Monroe has appeared in Longlegs, The Guest, and most notably, It Follows. So naturally, it follows that she’d be a solid pick to star in a Resident Evil work.
In “Evil Has Always Had a Name,” Monroe plays the role of a mother taking care of her daughter. Life is idyllic in Raccoon City—until it’s not. Sirens go off, people panic, and it isn’t long before the residents… become evil (sorry). With zombies on the streets, broadcasts advise people to go to the Raccoon City Police Station. Of course, we all know how that goes.
If you’ve played the games, “Evil Has Always Had a Name” actually has a couple of Easter Eggs. At 1:33, the silhouette of Nemesis from Resident Evil 3 appears behind the police car. You can even hear the monstrous brute yell “Stars!”
And while I won’t spoil the ending of the short film, one of the genius aspects of it is how it ties into Resident Evil Requiem. Again, I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but the final shots allude to the new spin on the T-virus found in Requiem. When we last went hands on with the game ourselves, we got to see this in action.
As for Resident Evil Requiem, the game takes place many years after the Raccoon City incident. It features the return of Leon S. Kennedy as well as new protagonist Grace Ashcroft. The two investigate this new virus and notably, return to the destroyed Raccoon City.
And “Evil Has Always Had a Name” won’t be the only Resident Evil film this year. Zach Cregger, director of Barbarian and Weapons, helms a new film in the franchise set to release in September. We’ll see if we’re blessed with two great Resident Evil films this year. But in the meantime, at least we’ve got one.
As for the upcoming game, Resident Evil Requiem comes out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 on February 27th, 2026.
Source: YouTube
