On the heels of Resident Evil Requiem’s release on 27 February, Capcom has released a live-action short film to promote the game, offering fans a better look at the origins of the Raccoon City Outbreak in a whole new light.
Titled Evil Has Always Had A Name, the three-minute-long short film stars Maika Monroe (Longlegs, It Follows) as a mother living in Raccoon City with her daughter before the infamous zombie outbreak. Things quickly go to hell, and unsurprisingly, it doesn’t end well for both of them.
Meant to set the scene prior to the events of Resident Evil Requiem, the short film features the aftermath of the missile strike seen at the end of 1999’s Resident Evil 3, which was meant to neutralise the zombie threat. Wide shots show the huge crater left in the missile’s wake, alongside the ruined city, complete with collapsed buildings and destroyed vehicles. Look closely at around the film’s one-minute and 35-second mark, and fans can even catch a glimpse of Nemesis, the third game’s central villain, shouting his famous “STARS” line.
The film’s most interesting titbit of information, however, came right at its end, which saw the shadows of two individuals walking past a zombie they just dispatched. Dialogue is then heard saying, “That’s the last of them, facility secured,” and then “Copy that, Raccoon City is ours.” With the short film meant to link to the events of Resident Evil Requiem, it leaves the question of who has claimed Raccoon City for themselves, with series mainstay, the evil Umbrella Corporation, coming to mind.
With fans soon able to explore Raccoon City themselves, it remains to be seen how the shadowy corporation links to the now destroyed city. Resident Evil Requiem will launch on 27 February 2026 on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
