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.
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!
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