Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Film Blends Comedy With Survival Horror

Zach Cregger’s new take on Capcom’s zombie franchise offers a distinct look at how video game movies have evolved over the years. When Paul W.S. Anderson’s original adaptation hit theaters in 2002, game adaptations were often viewed as a niche. While those earlier films found success, they also frequently deviated from their source material and left hardcore fans disappointed. Cregger’s film, directed by the Weapons filmmaker, serves as a return to the franchise fundamentals and presents a stripped-down story filled with terrifying zombified monsters.

Alongside the terror, the film is chiefly trying to make viewers laugh. Cregger uses humor to amplify the horror, crafting infected ghouls meant to be as funny as they are disturbing. The narrative centers on Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams. Created specifically for the movie, Bryan decides to drive over to Raccoon City in the middle of winter for a high-paying delivery gig. Despite treacherous weather and spotty cellphone reception, his journey starts uneventfully until he accidentally hits a shambling woman played by Andrea Miltnerová.

That first scare establishes the film's comedic tone. Tension momentarily evaporates when the movie smash-cuts to Bryan coaxing the woman into his car to get medical help. Dread quickly returns when the infected humans begin mutating into creatures that evoke nods to Katamari Damacy and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Abrams plays Bryan with a wide-eyed guilelessness, forcing him to evolve into someone with better survival instincts as he encounters each new monster. By focusing on an ordinary civilian rather than highly trained special agents, the filmmakers are able to lean directly into the survival aspect of survival horror.

Because Bryan is frequently terrified and fumbles his bullets, the movie often mirrors the experience of playing a Resident Evil game for the first time. He finds a couple of guns and a limited number of bullets, which leave him feeling far from safe as he trudges toward Raccoon City and searches empty buildings for a way to call for help. Indoor scenes featuring Bryan rifling through drawers and tiptoeing down dark hallways provide the most suspense.

The film also stars Zach Cherry, Will Merrick, Zoé Bellas, Chris Lew Kum Hoi, Griffin Newman, and Magdalena Sittovaas. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters on September 18th.