If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or gaming forums, you’ve probably seen concerns surrounding Zach Cregger’s unconventional take on Resident Evil. Many fans worried that leaning into dark comedy rather than a traditional zombie apocalypse narrative would undermine the tense atmosphere that has defined the franchise for decades. Much like the marketing campaigns for Barbarian and Weapons, the trailers reveal little beyond the film’s opening ten minutes, leaving the rest of the story largely a surprise … and what a surprise it is.
Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier who accepts a lucrative delivery job transporting a highly sensitive medical package to Raccoon City General Hospital. After learning that his girlfriend is pregnant, Bryan welcomes the extra money and the opportunity to process the life-changing news. However, his ordinary night takes a disastrous turn after he stops to help a distressed woman on a snow-covered mountain road. That single act of compassion triggers a nightmarish chain of events that spirals completely out of control.
Austin Abrams delivers an outstanding performance as Bryan, grounding the film with an everyman quality that makes the escalating chaos feel believable. His comedic timing is sharp, but he also sells the fear, confusion, and desperation needed for the horror elements to work. The result is a protagonist audiences can easily see themselves becoming trapped alongside.
The cinematography excels at creating isolation. Snow-covered roads, dimly lit interiors, and long stretches of silence generate a constant sense of unease. Every location feels hostile, making the environment as threatening as any creature lurking within it.
There are plenty of jump scares to satisfy the horror aficionados out there, and the sense of loneliness and dread is around every corner. Whether it’s a snow-covered mountain road, a creepy farmhouse, or the halls of Raccoon City General Hospital, the locations themselves are as stress-inducing as the monsters themselves. The film frequently shifts between first-person and third-person perspectives, leaning into its video game influences without ever pulling the viewer out of the experience. It’s so well done that it doesn’t feel gimmicky or out of place. Something fans of video games will appreciate, but those who don’t play may not even notice.
The question on every Resident Evil fan’s mind is simple: does this approach actually work within the franchise’s established lore? I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve only finished a few Resident Evil games. However, I’ve played enough to catch the subtle nods that hardcore fans will instantly notice. Whether it’s a classic typewriter tucked into a quiet room or the familiar herbs scattered throughout the environment, longtime fans will constantly spot small nods to the games. It leans heavily on gore, but only when it serves the story. While the jump scares can be anticipated, I still found myself jumping more than I expected. Rather than adapting a specific game, Cregger captures what makes Resident Evil work in the first place: isolation, dread, resourcefulness, and the feeling that every decision could make a bad situation even worse. It’s that understanding of the source material that allows the film to feel authentically Resident Evil despite telling an entirely original story.
Resident Evil is a film that must be seen in a theater to be appreciated. Few horror films this year generate as much audience engagement. Whether it’s sharing a laugh with the audience or hearing an entire theater collectively mutter “Oh no” during a tense moment, the film thrives in a packed auditorium. I rarely react out loud during movies, but Resident Evil managed to pull that response out of me more than once. Sharing the film’s biggest scares with a packed audience makes the experience significantly more memorable.
For those worried that Resident Evil would stray too far from its path, I’m here to say that while it doesn’t portray any single story from any of the games (and honestly no familiar characters are included), there is still plenty of fright, horror, and gore to go around. Resident Evil is easily the strongest film in the franchise to date and ranks among the finest video game adaptations ever made. While purists may prefer a more direct adaptation of the games, Cregger tells a fresh story that still feels at home within the Resident Evil universe. For me, it stands alongside the year’s most entertaining horror films.
More importantly, Cregger tells a story that works equally well for longtime Resident Evil fans and complete newcomers. If you loved Barbarian and Weapons (as I did), you will absolutely love this movie. If you are a fan of dark comedy and horror, this movie will be right up your alley. Whether you are a non-gamer, a casual gamer, or a hardcore cosplaying Umbrella corporation employee, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.
Resident Evil successfully walks a difficult line. It embraces dark comedy without sacrificing horror, introduces a fresh story while respecting the source material, and delivers enough thrills, laughs, and surprises to satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers. Whether you’re a dedicated Resident Evil veteran or someone who has never picked up a controller, Zach Cregger’s latest film proves there’s still plenty of life left in this franchise. Even after decades of sequels, remakes, and adaptations, Resident Evil still manages to feel surprisingly fresh. Highly recommended.
5 out of 5 stars
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