Zach Cregger's Resident Evil movie captures the chaotic joy of actually playing the games

Zach Cregger's Resident Evil movie arrives on general cinema release in the UK on 18th September, bringing a fresh perspective to video game adaptations by focusing on the messy reality of player experience rather than heroic fantasy.

The film follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who becomes caught in Raccoon City's T-virus outbreak during a snowy evening. His journey moves through familiar Resident Evil locations: a hospital, an abandoned farmhouse, zombie-infected streets, sewers, and ultimately a corporate lab. Rather than following a traditional narrative structure, Cregger structures the film like a video game itself, moving Bryan through plot-light, action-heavy sequences that play out roughly in real-time, bouncing between enemy encounters, set-pieces, and boss fights.

What sets Cregger's approach apart is his capture of authentic player behavior. The film acknowledges that playing video games involves shrieking, cringing, swearing, and fumbling with controllers. Bryan embodies this chaotic energy, monologuing continuously with expletives and fear-racked sounds throughout his ordeal. Cregger co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten, drawing on his experience with horror-comedy in films like Barbarian and Weapons.

The film swings between genuine tension and slapstick absurdity. Set-pieces include roly poly creatures, a car sequence, an elevator ride, a zombie rainstorm, and body horror monstrosities that blend new creations with the series' visual identity. While the plot remains minimal and the film lacks iconic Resident Evil characters like Leon and Claire, Cregger's willingness to embrace the series' inherent campiness strengthens rather than weakens the adaptation.

Abrams' characterization as an obliviously selfless, bumbling hero carries the film through its thinner moments. His resigned determination and stream of profanity-laden monologuing creates a character who feels relatable to anyone who has played through horror games while making questionable tactical decisions.

Cregger's film represents a departure from typical video game adaptations by refusing to take itself seriously in the way fans might expect. Instead, it acknowledges and celebrates the gap between the power fantasy games promise and the fumbling reality of player experience, making it stand out as a distinctly self-aware take on the source material.