Something Gay: Kali Reis In the New Resident Evil Movie
In light of everything getting even worse, this week’s something gay is Kali Reis’s role as Maxine in the new Resident Evil movie! You gotta love it when movies featuring queer actors do really well, especially when their audiences are so diverse. Directed by Zach Cregger, the creator of several box office hits including Weapons and Barbarian, the movie has received raving reviews, already grossing $60 million domestically since its release on September 18. As a lover of the games and this new adaptation, Kali Reis was amazing and something good amidst my seemingly futile job search.
Kali Reis (she/they) is a 40-year-old boxer and actress best known for her role as Evangeline in True Detective. She is a part of the Seaconke Wampanoag community, identifying as an Afro-Indigenous, two-spirit person. She has been outspoken about growing up in Rhode Island as a queer and indigenous person, as well as her journey to embracing her culture after generations of suppression. Reis is a prominent voice in activism for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis (MMIW), raising awareness through congresses, social media, and her outfits. Reis not only wears but also designs orange clothes featuring the “Three Strands of Sweetgrass” symbol as a logo for increasing awareness surrounding the atrocities of residential schools. This symbol is composed of sweetgrass blades, a braid, and the number three, all of which symbolize aspects of Indigenous culture and mythology.
Living up to her given name Mequinonoag, meaning “Many Feathers/Many Talents,” Reis was not only the first indigenous woman fighter to become a world champion in boxing and the first indigenous woman to receive an Emmy nomination, but she is also a certified motorcycle and small engines technician! She has worked as a residential counselor with RedSpirit Women's Motorcycle Riding Club whose mission is “Spreading peace and positivity on two wheels.”
In the film, Kali Reis plays a supporting character, and therefore doesn’t get a lot of screen time as the film is almost entirely centered around Austin Abrams' character, Bryan. Her character Maxine, however, is so badass her presence felt like a lot more of those 95 minutes. Maxine’s character is an Umbrella Corporation guard who saves Bryan from a group of infected while the men wait on the sidelines, which isn't too far from Reis in real life. In her second career of professional boxing, Reis has won numerous accolades such as being inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame earlier this year in addition to the Golden Globe and Emmy nominations she earned in 2024 for her role in True Detective: Night Country. Aside from the fact that a queer person is doing really well for themself right now, it’s great to see that someone who is queer can be a part of successful productions without having to play a queer character or be the butt of the joke. Because the Resident Evil games are spread out through so many years, movies, and different gameplay styles, the fanbase is made up of many demographics. Reis’ role as a queer actor in a popular film is even more important because this franchise is enjoyed by so many different people.