Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” is a terrific little horror film we didn’t know we needed.
With a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes, it’s easy to miss all of the details that Cregger so meticulously incorporated. A fan of the video game franchise, he previously directed the horror blockbusters “Barbarian” and “Weapons.”
“I played Resident Evil 4 a hundred times,” Cregger said in an interview with ComicBook. “I am obsessed with it. And so, I wanted to tell a story that feels like it’s honoring the experience you get when you play the games.”
The film was reimagined in a way that focuses on an original, standalone plot that adopts components and themes from Resident Evil 2 and 3, rather than recreating a specific game or character.
“Let me say this: this is not breaking the rules of the games,” Cregger said when talking with Inverse. “I am the biggest worshiper of the games, so I’m telling a story that is a love letter to the games and follows the rules of them.”
Set in the snowy Colorado mountains, it follows medical courier Bryan Hodukavich (Austin Abrams), who reluctantly agrees to carry a package to Raccoon City General Hospital — unbeknownst to him all of the dangers that lie ahead, starting with an outbreak of rapidly evolving organisms that have spread throughout the city.
“It is obedient to the games, it’s just a different story,” Cregger added.
So why is the Resident Evil franchise so popular?
It all started with Capcom’s 1996 video game Resident Evil (or Biohazard in Japan), which showcased zombies and mutated creatures in a first-person survival environment. The game triggered massive success and contributed to the cultural trend of the horror genre.
Since then, Capcom has released 11 games – with Resident Evil: Requiem (2026) being the most recent of the franchise. They all follow a continuous storyline regarding the Umbrella Corporation and Raccoon City in addition to recurring subplots and characters.
As of June 2026, the franchise has sold a total of 213 million copies worldwide, in contrast with the Silent Hill series (17.8 million copies sold worldwide).
And Resident Evil is no stranger when it comes to cinema.
Paul W.S. Anderson was the first to adapt the concept into a live-action thriller under the same name in 2002. Though his interpretation was an embarrassing box-office flop (with little association with the original games), it still earned massive cult followings, leading Anderson to create five more.
And in 2021, another reboot, “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” (directed by Johannes Roberts) circulated in theaters for about a month before going straight to digital. This film also inevitably bombed because of its intense dedication to the game’s original plots — and its absence of everything else.
While some argue that Cregger’s rendition of “Resident Evil” lacks aspects of the franchise’s storylines, it is evident that he harnesses every element of what it means to make a true film adaptation of a video game.
The cinematography is buttery and crisp as the camera continues to wane and pan with each moment of unease. And yet, with the horror elements in full-effect, Abram’s Bryan is so cynically vivacious and relatable that the comedic undertones felt well-deserved.
Per Cregger’s intentions, viewing “Resident Evil” was like immersing yourself in gameplay. He occasionally shifts to a third-person perspective on behalf of Bryan, which in itself is an immaculate and charmingly frightening experience.
At this point, we are Bryan.
We are checking our ammunition — a terrible aim with the handgun — and we are searching an abandoned farmhouse for resources, eventually upgrading to a shotgun.
Even the typewriter, strategically placed as a “save point,” provided detail and brilliance for fans of the video game franchise, in addition to the glimpses of healing herbs, first-aid items, and other references.
“Resident Evil” has earned 96% on Rotten Tomatoes since its release on Sept. 18 and is worthy of every positive review. From gut-wrenching and gory sequences to adrenaline-fueled amusement, the film was unexpectedly delicious.
One can only hope that Cregger pursues his horror game passions by continuing this effective adaptation … and doing the franchise justice.
At a glance: “Resident Evil”
- Directed by: Zach Cregger
- Written by: Zach Cregger and Shay Hatten
- Starring: Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry
- Rating: R
- Our Review: ✭✭✭✭✭
- The film was released on Sept. 18 with a 96% in Rotten Tomatoes and a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes, grossing about $324.3 million worldwide.
- Abrams almost suffered a fatal injury on set when an 150-pound body-sized blood bag was dropped from the roof — too close for comfort.
