Home video: It's her show in 'Resident Evil,' 'Girl With All the Gifts'

May 11, 2017 at 8:37PM
Sennia Nanua stars in "The Girl With All the Gifts."
Sennia Nanua stars in "The Girl With All the Gifts." (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

When it comes to the end of the world, call a woman — or a girl — to fight the zombie hordes and other evil forces.

Tuesday's release of "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" (Sony, $27 DVD, $35 Blu-ray; also 4K and on-demand) offers few surprises.

A no-nonsense Milla Jovovich deftly kicks butt again in a cinematic video game filled with over-the-top action and snappy visuals. Amid stilted pacing and choppy editing, the film offers an indifferent return to the heart of Umbrella Corp., capping a film franchise that has arguably overstayed its welcome.

For a more thoughtful take on a post-apocalyptic heroine, check out the British import "The Girl With All the Gifts" (Lionsgate, $20 DVD, $25 Blu-ray; also on-demand).

Newcomer Sennia Nanua beams as a precocious girl named Melanie who holds the key to the future of humankind after a fungus spreads a zombie plague. She also happens to crave human flesh. Glenn Close, the only big name in the cast, is surprisingly effective as a scientist who views the young, would-be savior as nothing more than a lab rat.

Despite a few stumbles in the final moments, this fresh take on the zombie genre is well worth seeking out.

Also coming Tuesday

• "A Mermaid's Tale"

• "12 Pound Balls"

• "The Space Between Us"

• "Streets of Fire" (Blu-ray)

• "XXX: Return of Zander Cage"

Ali Larter, Milla Jovovich and Ruby Rose star in "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter," directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
Ali Larter, Milla Jovovich and Ruby Rose star in "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter," directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. (Randy Salas — Sony Pictures/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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