I have to admit, I was excited for this one, once upon a time.
Being able to see Claire and Leon together again for the first REAL time since Degeneration, potentially gaining more insight into the government's involvement with Umbrella, and potentially getting some call forwards to the Spencer Mansion Incident, Tricell, or Alex Wesker, it all seemed really hopeful, as a new entry in the Biohazard series. Sadly, I have to say, this was one of the most boring films I have ever seen, and yes that's what it is. This is another Biohazard film, despite labelling itself as an ONA, the way it is paced and structured, how it was released, and the length of the series in total all lean to it being a film that was at the last minute split up into four "episodes", not unlike Biohazard Revelations 2.
The difference between those two entries though is one of content. Revelations 2 was, as per the title, filled with revelations. The episodic structure was in its favour for generating discussion, but Infinite Darkness, even ignoring how it was released all at once, would not generate any discussion. I ultimately found myself confused everytime a reveal "happened", as I predicted each one in the first episode really, the only thing I didn't entirely see coming was a brief allusion to Tricell, but that has no merit or purpose in this entry. It's a Degeneration level call forward, just lip service.
I can only assume this was made to be a show because Netflix wanted more seasons potentially, but I can't see this getting anything else. If I wasn't a fan of the series, I wouldn't have even finished episode 1. The big white house outbreak, that was in all the trailers, is barely a part of the show, and it concludes TEN MINUTES before episode 1 ends. It's absurd to say the least, false advertising on the level of the last Biohazard CG film, Biohazard Vendetta (and oh boy, we'll talk about that one one day).
To go into the series a bit deeper, what this is really about politics. Not the fun Biohazard kind where the president turns into a zombie, the bad kind where it's just about the secretary of defense wanting war with China. I had assumed him being an antagonist was a red herring, considering how on the nose it was, but nope, he's the bad guy, and his whole motivation is "muh China". I wish I was joking. I assume Capcom was paid by China to make this considering how much they come up and how little they have to do with any other entry in the series, aside from 6 literally going to China. "Look at the stupid American government guy try to start a war with China" is a summation of the "plot".
Even if you love Leon or you love Claire (or you're some kind of masochist who loves Netflix originals), skip this. It's bad, not worth anyone's time, let alone my own. I gave this a 5/10, and just even talking about it more is making me feel like lowering that score. If there is a season 2, I'm watching it at double speed.
20.5 out of 21 users liked this review