Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has finally arrived in theatres. The filmmaker behind Barbarian and Weapons has taken on Capcom’s iconic survival horror franchise with an all-new story, and now that audiences can see the finished movie, we want to know: what did you think of Resident Evil?
We already know what JoBlo’s Chris Bumbray thought of the movie. You can check out his 9/10 review at this link. Bumbray praised Cregger’s approach to the material, calling Resident Evil a propulsive, ultra-lean horror action experience and highlightied Austin Abrams’ performance in the lead role.
To note, one of our editors, Jay St G, who is a gigantic fan of the games, totally disagreed with Chris’s review. In the interest of starting a conversation and offering a different POV, here’s his take:
So let me start by stating this: I really liked Barbarian a lot (as that movie had a Resident Evil feel to it) and I enjoyed Weapons. I have played almost every Resident Evil game since 1996. Audiences generally dislike the Milla Jovovich/Paul Anderson films, but I think the first two films were the best we got out of that saga, and I absolutely despised Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City. So as a die-hard fan of the franchise, I WANTED to love this movie. Yes, the cinematography was great, the special effects and gore were fantastic, Adam Abrams character was likeable enough for you to root for, and I understood what director Zach Cregger was going for with his take on the IP, but this WAS NOT a Resident Evil Movie at all. Not even a hint of an expanded RE Universe. This was a Comedy Horror film with elements of Survival Horror Video Games, and some fun Resident Evil easter eggs sprinkled throughout the film, but not enough of anything that makes the franchise so great. This movie was far too loaded with over-the-top humor, with NO ICONIC MONSTERS from the Resident Evil franchise with barely any Zombies in the film to fear, and it was an odd choice to go right into the “las plagas” from Resident Evil 4. (but not faithful to that either) The movie starts out okay but got too loosey goosey halfway into the film. Chris’ (who as far as I know has never played an RE Game) review of this film is absolutely flawed. I walked out of the theater saying “What the F*ck was that!?” so therefore, I have to give this film a 5 out of 10.
A New Resident Evil Story
Unlike the previous Resident Evil movies, Cregger’s film isn’t built around established video game characters such as Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, or Jill Valentine. Instead, it tells an original story set within the world of the games. The movie follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who takes a late-night delivery to Raccoon City. What should be a simple job quickly turns into a nightmare when Bryan encounters the aftermath of a horrifying biohazard outbreak.
Sony Pictures describes the movie as an all-new story following Bryan as “one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.”
Cregger has taken an experience-driven approach to the franchise, throwing Bryan into one increasingly dangerous situation after another. The movie is also very short by modern blockbuster standards, with a reported runtime of around 95 minutes, leaving little time for the action and horror to slow down.
The movie stars Abrams alongside Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Johnno Wilson. Cregger directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten.
Cregger has also described the movie as a one-off opportunity to work within an established franchise rather than the beginning of a new phase of franchise filmmaking for him.
What Are the Reviews Saying?
The early reaction to Resident Evil has been extremely enthusiastic, with viewers praising the movie’s combination of horror, comedy, gore, creature effects, and video game-inspired tension. Austin Abrams has also received a lot of positive attention for his performance as Bryan.
What Did You Think?
Now it’s your turn. Did Resident Evil live up to your expectations? What did you think of Zach Cregger’s take on the franchise? Did the original story work for you, even without the familiar video game protagonists? And what did you think of Austin Abrams as Bryan, the creature designs, the gore, the humor, and the movie’s survival horror approach?
Whether you went into the movie as a longtime Resident Evil fan or simply wanted to see what the Barbarian and Weapons filmmaker would do with the property, we want to hear your opinion. Let us know what you thought of Resident Evil by leaving a comment below!
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
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