'Resident Evil': A Lean, Bloody Horror Thrill-Ride
Nowadays, when a director succeeds, they inevitably get a chance to adapt a piece of IP for the screen. Whether Marvel comes calling or a studio needs to revive a long dormant franchise, this has become commonplace over the past decade. This is what happened to Zach Cregger, who signed on to direct a reboot of the Resident Evil series for Sony. Cregger became attached to the project after the success of Barbarian, but along the way, he garnered even more acclaim for his film Weapons. There was always going to be a certain level of pressure on him with this film, both from the studio and fans of the Resident Evil video games and films, but he has now amassed a following himself, with people eagerly anticipating what he makes next. So what does one do when they find themselves in a position like this? If you’re Cregger, the answer is simple: make the film you want to make and hope for the best. It’s a bold strategy, but thankfully for Cregger, it pays off and he continues to prove himself as one of the best genre directors currently working today.
Bryan (Austin Abrams) is a medical courier who is about to finish up for the night when he is tasked with delivering an important package to a hospital in Raccoon City. His journey takes him through the snowy Colorado mountains, where he soon encounters mutated creatures. These creatures are the result of an outbreak, and Bryan may have the key to stopping it. He must fight against these monsters in order to survive, and to deliver the package to the hospital before it’s too late.
Let me start by saying that I have never played the Resident Evil games nor have I seen any of the movies, so this is my true introduction to the world of the franchise. That said, I can’t speak to whether or not the film reflects its source material well. I do know that Cregger and his co-writer, Shay Hatten, have crafted an original story that takes place in the world of the games instead of making a direct adaptation. This choice will likely anger die-hard fans, but I think it was the right choice. The burden of recreating specific moments from the games or trying to bring fan-favorite characters to life is lifted, and Cregger is able to focus more on making a quality film.
What he and Hatten have written is rather simple, as the plot can simply be boiled down to a guy needing to deliver a package, but he has to fight monsters in order to do so. There’s not too much depth to the film, but it doesn’t exactly need it. It is a lean, mean, blend of horror, adventure, and comedy that moves quickly and never lets up, making for one of the most thrilling films of the year. On paper, it isn’t much, but in execution, it is an intense, bloody, and wildly entertaining journey that made me think of films like Evil Dead II and Escape from New York. This could have easily been a film that gave into fan service or played the hits, but Cregger opted to do his own thing, and I certainly think it was an excellent choice.
Despite the film not being an adaptation of the Resident Evil games, it certainly captures the feeling of playing video games. It follows a similar structure to a game, with levels and boss fights and such, and our protagonist makes choices and mistakes that one might make if they were playing the video game version of the film. Even the dialogue uttered by Austin Abrams’s Bryan feels like something someone might say while gaming, specifically the lines he says to himself and his frequent f-bombs. The structure can feel a touch repetitive, as it does feel like we’re moving from level to level. This may bother some viewers, but it didn’t really bother me as much as I thought it would. It helps that the film’s momentum is so strong and that the film doesn’t waste a single moment.
Some might also take issue with the film’s ending, as it ends on a rather bleak note that can be read as unsatisfying. I myself wasn’t completely sold on the ending at first, as it lacks closure, but I warmed up to it the more I sat with it. At the very least, I admire Cregger’s boldness to end the film the way he did, and I feel that it makes the film as a whole more interesting as a result. His previous two films had more celebratory finales, so the fact that this one has a darker ending is a nice change of pace. The ending is sure to be divisive, but I am firmly positive on it and appreciate the swing that it takes.
It is widely known that Zach Cregger comes from a comedy background, getting his start in the sketch comedy group The Whitest Kids U’ Know. There are comedic elements in both Barbarian and Weapons, but I was pleasantly surprised by how pronounced the humor in Resident Evil is. Make no mistake, this is a horror film, but it has a goofier energy that I personally loved. I can see longtime fans of the series bristling at the comedy, as none of the games or earlier films seem to feature this type of humor, but I thought it was well-used here.
Cregger continues to show he has a knack for horror, creating a tense, unsettling atmosphere that pervades the entire film and pulling off some impressive setpieces. An early shot of Bryan’s car plunging into the cold, dark night sets the tone well, and evokes chills and unease. With every scene essentially functioning as a level of a video game, Cregger keeps the film moving and has something interesting at every turn, whether that be monsters, fighting, viscera, or all of the above. I was also struck by the creature design, which has the grossness and body horror that we have come to expect from Cregger’s work. I’d argue that it is amped up a bit and I’m sure certain details were inspired by the games, but regardless, I was both impressed and slightly disgusted by the film’s monsters.
Perhaps the greatest thing about Resident Evil is Austin Abrams’s central performance. We are with Abrams from start to finish, and he is simply incredible every step of the way. Abrams first came to my attention with his stand-out performance in Weapons, and his work here suggests that he and Cregger are an excellent actor/director combo. Abrams has a manic energy that is perfect for the character of Bryan, and he captures the disbelief, confusion, and fear of the character exceptionally well. Not to mention the physicality he brings to the role is excellent. He also does a great job of portraying the character’s squeamishness and ineptitude, and nails the comedic aspects of the character. He manages to be both an audience surrogate and a compelling lead, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that Bryan isn’t an action hero at all. It is refreshing to see a film make a guy who doesn’t know how to fire a gun and is disgusted at the sight of blood its hero, and Abrams is fully committed every step of the way.
I can’t speak on Resident Evil in terms of how it fits in with the rest of the franchise, but for someone who knows next to nothing about the lore of the games or the films, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a fast-paced thrill ride with some great filmmaking and bold choices, and it packs quite a punch. I can see fans of the games being less enthusiastic or downright hating this film, but fans of Zach Cregger’s work will undoubtedly have a great time. I would argue that this is one of the best films inspired by a video game to ever be made, which is interesting since it is an original story that happens to take place in the Resident Evil universe. It may not be anything super substantial on the whole, but it is hard to deny how entertaining and thrilling it is.
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