Zach Cregger Finally Cracks the "Resident Evil" Code
When developers Shinji Mikami and Tokuro Fujiwara of Capcom released the first Resident Evil game in 1996, nobody could've predicted it would later become one of the biggest media franchises of all time; expanding beyond video games into comics, novels, and most notably: feature films. Starting with the first titular film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson in 2002, there have been six additional movies since, becoming the third highest-grossing video game film series of all time. However, not a single one of those productions has managed to earn a fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes...until now. But after a quarter century of failure, what is so different this time around, and what exactly did director, Zach Cregger get so right?
2026's Resident Evil is not based on any singular video game in the franchise, instead utilizing backstory, aesthetics, and horror themes present in every one of the games. It follows medical courier, Bryan who takes a last minute job bringing a mysterious package to Raccoon City General Hospital, a municipality that has recently become overrun with a mysterious virus, turning everyday people into mutated zombies. It is the third feature film by horror director, Zach Cregger after his last two successful projects, Barbarian (2022) and Weapons (2025). The film is also the second collaboration between Cregger and actor, Austin Abrams, going from a supporting role in Weapons to a lead role this time around. Bryan is a lead role in every sense of the word, being on screen for all 90 minutes of the film's runtime.
It is incredibly difficult making a film based on an existing property, especially one as popular as Resident Evil. It is impossible to please everyone and let's face it, video game movies have a reputation for being sub-par. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Cregger's film has already become the highest rated video game movie on Rotten Tomatoes (96% critic score, 91% audience score) and has already grossed 144% of its budget back in one singular weekend. A success in every sense of the word, it's hard to put into words what exactly went so right with Resident Evil, especially since I'm not a big fan of the source material but if there's one thing for certain, it's a bloody great time at the movies.
While being a horror director, Cregger has an undeniable knack for inserting effective comedy into even the most spine-chilling scripts. While Resident Evil has plenty of scares, it has a near equal amount of laughs, most of which stemming from Bryan's sheer lack of intellectual prowess and survival skills. Writers Shay Hatten and Zach Cregger did a great job of writing Bryan as a lovable idiot who you want to see succeed despite all likelihood that he won't. While largely spending the film as a charismatic bumbling idiot, Bryan still has plenty of personal struggle to give his story some much-needed depth.
Simply put, Austin Abrams and Zach Cregger are a match made in heaven. Both have extensive comedy backgrounds, most notably Cregger being a founding member of The Whitest Kids U' Know, I hope he continues his unique blend of comedy and horror for years to come, ideally with Austin Abrams on his team.
Resident Evil is a downright feast for the eyes in terms of special effects. The franchise's trademark monsters made up an ever-growing mass of mangled flesh and body parts are on full display. The film's main antagonist works well as a looming threat and a formidable final foe. The ending is going to make or break this film for a lot of viewers. Without spoiling anything, it somehow feels final and unfinished at the same time.
The Resident Evil is known for its over-the-top concepts, but this latest film installment gets its strength from its simplicity. It's a movie about an everyman beating the odds in the face of cosmic horror with one simple goal in mind, to deliver a package. It's easy to root for Bryan despite his countless stupid decisions. It's a film sure to please existing fans and make new ones. Finally, the world has a Resident Evil movie worthy of the name!
