Key facts
- Director Zach Cregger's new Resident Evil film is a fresh take on the franchise.
- The film blends horror, humor, and over-the-top gore.
- It is set in the present day as the T-virus spreads through Raccoon City.
- The protagonist is Bryan, a young medical courier played by Austin Abrams.
- The movie features mutant creatures rather than focusing solely on zombies.
- Cregger incorporated third-person gameplay point-of-view shots seamlessly.
The latest Resident Evil reboot, directed by Zach Cregger, is being hailed as a successful revitalization of the flagging franchise. Cregger's distinctive approach blends horror, humor, and significant gore in what is described as a fresh take on the established universe. The film, set in the present day, follows Bryan, a young medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who takes on a dangerous delivery to Raccoon City amidst a T-virus outbreak.
Cregger, a fan of the games but unfamiliar with the previous films, opted for an original story with original characters, drawing inspiration from Resident Evil 2 and films like Evil Dead II. Unlike previous installments, Cregger aimed for a straightforward narrative, keeping the audience locked in with the protagonist's journey. The film is presented as an alternate timeline, a 'side quest' within the broader Resident Evil lore.
Bryan's ill-fated delivery run begins with an encounter with an Infected woman, escalating into a fight for survival alongside a local sheriff, who is subsequently killed. Stranded and facing increasingly dire circumstances, Bryan is forced to take refuge in a farmhouse, where he confronts a variety of mutant creatures. Abrams' performance as Bryan is highlighted for its ability to convey a range of emotions, from awkwardness and frustration to sheer terror and resignation.
The film's pacing is tight, with effective jump scares and a clever incorporation of third-person gameplay perspectives that seamlessly blend with traditional objective viewpoints. Wry humor, reminiscent of Shaun of the Dead, is sprinkled throughout, often stemming from Bryan's cluelessness and struggles with everyday obstacles like padlocks. While Cregger initially included more humor, test audiences found it too prevalent, leading him to pare it back for a more balanced horror experience.
Instead of focusing primarily on zombies, the film features a diverse array of monstrous mutant creatures, including a hybrid zombie that grows with incorporated bodies and a grotesque sewer dweller. The body horror elements are intense and not for the squeamish, yet Cregger manages to balance the horrifying with the darkly humorous. Fans expecting direct adaptations of well-known game characters might be disappointed, but the film is credited with finally cracking the challenge of adapting the games effectively to the screen.