The Twisted Truth Behind the Baker Family’s Madness in Resident Evil 7

The Baker family’s descent into terrifying madness in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is not due to some inherent evil, but rather the horrifying influence of Eveline, a biologically engineered bio-weapon. This article delves into the specific reasons behind their gruesome transformation, exploring the how, why, and what that turned this once ordinary family into a nightmare.

The straightforward answer is that the Baker family became “crazy” because they were infected and overtaken by Eveline’s mold. This mold wasn’t just any pathogen; it was a bio-engineered weapon designed to control and alter individuals. Upon being infected, the Bakers were subjected to Eveline’s unique powers, which fundamentally warped their minds and bodies. The once compassionate and caring family became violently sadistic, cannibalistic monsters, driven by Eveline’s twisted desires.

The Roots of the Infection: How Eveline Took Hold

The catalyst for the Baker family’s downfall was the arrival of a wrecked tanker ship near their Dulvey, Louisiana farm in 2014. This ship was carrying Eveline, a bio-weapon in the form of a seemingly young girl. Mia Winters, Ethan’s wife, was also on that ship, tasked with controlling Eveline. When the tanker crashed, both Mia and Eveline were exposed to the mold that made up Eveline’s being, causing a major accident. This mold spread to the Baker family upon finding Mia.

The Mold’s Devastating Effects

The mold wasn’t merely an infection; it was a complete mind and body takeover. It granted the Bakers superhuman strength, resilience, and regenerative abilities, but at a terrible cost.

• Loss of Reason: The mold corrupted their minds, turning them into violent, deranged individuals driven by primal urges. Their previous personalities were twisted to serve Eveline’s will.
• Physical Mutations: As the infection progressed, the Bakers started to physically mutate into monstrous forms when they sustained serious damage. These mutations further highlighted their transformation from ordinary humans into terrifying creatures.
• Mind Control: The most insidious aspect of the mold was its ability to control the Bakers. They became, in essence, puppets of Eveline, forced to enact her desires and whims, turning on each other and anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path.

The Individual Transformations

Each member of the Baker family experienced their own unique transformations under Eveline’s influence:

• Jack Baker: The patriarch of the family, Jack was initially seen as an insane psychopath. However, it is revealed that the mold altered his personality, forcing him to follow Eveline’s bidding. He became a relentless pursuer, capable of regenerating from grievous injuries. His transformation epitomized the devastating effects of the mold on the family’s core.
• Marguerite Baker: Jack’s wife, Marguerite, transformed into a grotesque creature with insect-like features, reflecting the mold’s disturbing power. She became obsessed with inflicting pain and suffering, showcasing the sadistically violent potential unlocked by the mold.
• Lucas Baker: The Bakers’ son, Lucas, was unique in his level of awareness of his condition, though his behavior was warped by the mold. He used his intelligence to set elaborate traps and experiments, displaying a cruel and sadistic form of ingenuity. Unlike his parents, his mutation was more gradual, and he maintained a degree of cognitive function.
• Zoe Baker: The Bakers’ daughter, Zoe, was an outlier in the family. Though infected by the mold, she was able to resist Eveline’s mind control to a degree, due to her understanding of Eveline’s nature. She chose to isolate herself from her family and tried to help Ethan, demonstrating that the mold’s control was not absolute.

The Cruel Twist of Fate

Before the mold, the Bakers were a relatively ordinary rural family, displaying some minor dysfunctions. They were even known for their compassion towards strangers, taking people in when they needed help. Eveline’s infection, however, turned them into the epitome of nightmare fuel, making them violently sadistic, deranged, and cannibalistic.

The Baker family’s tale in Resident Evil 7 serves as a chilling exploration of how a seemingly mundane family can be broken and twisted into something truly horrific. It highlights the terrifying potential of bio-weaponry and its capacity to strip individuals of their humanity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Baker Family

1. What exactly is Eveline and her connection to the Baker family?

Eveline is a biologically engineered bio-weapon (B.O.W.) known as E-001, in the form of a young girl. She’s the source of the mold that infected the Baker family. The mold was designed to control and alter individuals, turning them into her “family” and enforcers.

2. Why were the Bakers so intent on killing Ethan?

The Bakers, under Eveline’s control, saw Ethan as an outsider and a threat to their “family.” They were compelled by the mold and their twisted perception to eliminate any outsiders in an attempt to expand their “family” and protect Eveline, viewing her as their adopted child.

3. Why was Mia infected with the mold as well?

Mia was exposed to the mold during the shipwreck, the same incident that released Eveline near the Baker family’s property. Her infection was a direct result of her proximity to Eveline and the crash’s aftermath, not because of the Bakers.

4. Did the Baker family have any awareness of their actions while infected?

Most of the Bakers were driven by the mold. Jack, Marguerite, and most of Lucas were largely under Eveline’s control with minimal awareness of their actions, although there was moments where their original self would shine through. Zoe retained more awareness and resisted the mold’s influence by isolating herself, whereas Lucas seemed to be more aware of his actions.

5. How did Jack Baker seemingly die multiple times and come back?

The mold granted the Bakers extraordinary regenerative abilities. When severely damaged, they could mutate into monstrous forms and recover from normally lethal injuries. This made them incredibly difficult to kill and explained Jack’s repeated revivals.

6. Was there any good left in the Baker family while infected?

While they were predominantly driven by the mold, there were instances where glimpses of their former selves surfaced. However, their actions were ultimately controlled and warped by Eveline and the mold’s corrupting influence. Zoe, in particular, stands out for her attempts to resist the mold.

7. What role did the mold play in the Baker family’s physical transformations?

The mold was responsible for the Bakers’ horrific physical transformations. It granted them increased strength and the ability to regenerate, but it also caused grotesque mutations that reflected their increasingly monstrous nature. These mutations came out when they took heavy damage.

8. How did Lucas differ from the rest of the infected Bakers?

Lucas was more calculating and maintained a higher level of cognitive function compared to his parents. He used his intelligence to set traps and experiments, showcasing a cruel form of sadism, but was still under Eveline’s control.

9. What was Zoe’s relationship with the rest of her family after the infection?

Zoe resisted Eveline’s control, choosing to distance herself from her family. She was aware of the danger they posed, opting instead to help Ethan escape from the plantation, despite the danger it posed to herself.

10. How did the mold infection affect Mia in comparison to the Bakers?

Mia’s infection manifested differently; while she did exhibit increased strength and aggression, she did not have as much of a transformation as the Bakers and showed moments of clarity, indicating a weaker mold control. She was mainly influenced by Eveline rather than being a mindless drone.

11. Why didn’t Eveline completely control Ethan?

Ethan’s infection occurred later in the game. Late-stage infections are known to develop resistances towards Eveline’s control. Additionally, there are also some theories stating he became immune to Eveline’s control because he was killed and revived by Jack Baker.

12. What was the “Welcome to the family” line about?

This phrase was not an invitation, but a declaration of Eveline’s twisted control. It signified the moment when individuals were fully integrated into her “family,” becoming mindless drones and tools for her to use.

13. Why is Eveline so resentful towards Rose, Ethan’s daughter in Resident Evil: Village?

Eveline’s deep-seated jealousy stems from her longing for parental love and a family, something Rose had that she didn’t. The fact that Rose was the center of her parents affection and attention enraged Eveline, leading to her attacks in the game.

14. How were the Bakers before the infection and why do they look well-fed?

Before the infection, the Bakers were a seemingly ordinary rural family. They were known for their compassion, and as for their plump physique, that was because they worked at a bakery, which was a profitable business, and they were well-fed.

15. What happened to the Baker family at the end of Resident Evil 7?

After being defeated, the mold’s control over them was broken, the family’s members were either killed or presumably ceased to be after the events of the game. Zoe and Joe are the only members of the Baker family left alive at the end of Resident Evil 7.