Resident Evil (dir. Zach Cregger)
By: Dave Hughes
There is no denying the seismic impact that Zach Cregger has had on the horror genre within a shocking brief window of time. From his explosive directorial debut Barbarian (2022), to the massive critical and commercial triumph of Weapons (2025), Cregger has rapidly established himself as an undeniable creative force whose releases represent appointment viewing for moviegoers worldwide. Taking on a legendary franchise with his latest feature, Resident Evil, naturally brings immense expectations given Cregger’s recent track record. Expectations wilt in the face of the acclaimed director’s bold adaptation of the iconic survival-horror game, amounting to a thrilling and triumphant reimagining.
Rather than attempting a rigid recreation of a specific title in the video game franchise, Resident Evil functions as an original narrative existing entirely within Capcom's established universe. For those unfamiliar with the lore, the story unfolds in the doomed industrial hub of Raccoon City, which is teetering on the brink of an apocalyptic viral outbreak as the film begins. Leading the journey is Bryan Hodukavich, played by Austin Abrams (Weapons), an everyday courier tasked with transporting emergency medical supplies between local hospitals. Bryan accepts what is promised to be a routine delivery run across town, completely unaware of the viral horrors brewing in the streets. What follows is a relentless, Mad Max-inspired gauntlet across the decaying urban wasteland of Raccoon City, filled with terrifying creatures and chaotic obstacles at every turn.
Zach Cregger and Austin Abrams have forged a remarkable creative bond, with Cregger clearly tailoring this role specifically around Abrams' distinct screen presence. Abrams plays Bryan as a fascinating cross between Marty McFly and Kevin McCallister, an instantly lovable character, thoroughly out of his depth and yet remarkably inventive when pushed to the brink. Trapped inside Raccoon City, he survives the undead nightmare not through tactical military training, but through frantic ingenuity and improvisation which can be both entertaining and frustrating to audiences invested in Bryan’s survival.
Dark humor has always been a vital weapon in Cregger’s filmmaking toolkit. Surprisingly, Resident Evil stands out as one of his funniest and most entertaining efforts to date. The production fully embraces the inherent absurdity of its B-movie video-game premise, offering sharp moments of organic levity with Abrams operating at the peak of his comedic powers. This dynamic is especially evident throughout the film’s first act, where Abrams’ hilarious, slow-dawning realization of the apocalyptic mess he has stumbled into provides pure comedic gold.
The film’s creature design and practical effects work are truly exceptional. Cregger enlists industry veteran Shane Mahan, renowned for his legendary contributions to classics like Aliens (1986) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Bringing a tactile, classical mastery to Resident Evil makes the collapse of Raccoon City feel even more real. Rather than filling the frame with computer-generated monsters, the production relies on physical prosthetics, animatronics, and visceral gross-out effects that leave a lasting mark on the audience.The film’s final act is as graphic and twisted as anything that Cregger has ever done.
Target Score: 8.5/10: Director Zach Cregger continues an incredible hot streak with his thrilling reimagining of Resident Evil. Delivering a fun, twisted, and deeply refreshing spin on the video-game mythology that inspired it, Cregger successfully honors the source material while laying the groundwork for a potential restart for the franchise.