Director Rich Lee of Framestore Pictures has partnered with Capcom and Nomadic Agency to create a live-action trailer for the video game Resident Evil: Requiem. The three-minute short–titled Evil Has Always Had A Name–has already sparked significant fan response ahead of its official release.
Rather than portraying zombies as disposable monsters, Lee’s approach explores who they were before the outbreak–reframing Raccoon City through the lives once lived within it.
Set in 1998, the film stars Scream Queen Maika Monroe (Longlegs, It Follows, Watcher) as a single mother navigating the final hours before–and the devastating aftermath of–the outbreak. A longtime Resident Evil fan, Lee embedded subtle Easter eggs throughout, rewarding repeat viewings for dedicated audiences.
Shot over two days in Mexico City, the production meticulously recreated 1990s Raccoon City–grounding the story in practical locations before expanding into a haunting post-apocalyptic landscape realized through bespoke virtual environments designed by Lee and his team.
On crafting the short film, Lee shared, “For me, it was about revealing the lives that existed before everything fell apart–the families, routines, and small moments that made Raccoon City feel real. We wanted audiences to feel what was lost beneath the horror while still honoring the game. From the art direction to the performances to the hidden Easter eggs, every detail was designed to immerse fans in a world that’s both nostalgic and emotionally resonant.”
