Follows a hapless courier tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital. He soon finds himself caught in the middle of an outbreak and must fight through hordes of mutated creatures to survive.
Resident Evil is the latest video game adaptation to hit theaters, with this being a fresh reboot of the franchise from decades past. This time around, it’s being helmed by director Zach Cregger, who, on the surface, would appear to be the perfect match to invest in such an IP, with two of his past horror films being Weapons (2025) and Barbarian (2022). This film isn’t for the faint of heart, simply put. Without any warning, from the first few minutes, you’ll need a water break, a towel, and the best air conditioning unit around just to keep you from passing out from the level of anxiety this film will put you through. This is said with no exaggeration, and the film initially launches off to take the crown as one of the best films of the year.
Zach has a unique visual style that stands out from many directors working today. Just like his past film Barbarian, the opening captures so much that it should be taught in film school on how to grab the audience and never let go. It’s captivating, and the use of the camera is unlike most directors, with shots from the ground looking up as if you have no power. The majority of his shots aren’t wide, so you feel claustrophobic, with no escape, and you’re never able to see what’s around the corner. Just like the video game, it’s mostly viewed in third person, which is terrifying, and you never know what’s going to jump out at you. The jump scares are cleverly placed and feel earned, not just like a cheap trick desperate to gain attention.
The protagonist, named Bryan (Austin Abrams), is instantly likable. He’s just a normal guy living paycheck to paycheck, trying to be the best boyfriend that he can be. Throughout his journey, he reacts, for the most part, the same way you would given the situation, which makes him that much more relatable. It’s obvious he’s a nice guy, and you just want him to survive all the mayhem and chaos that surrounds him. He seems genuine and like someone you could easily have a conversation with about whatever topic comes to mind. He’s also funny, too. Though he’s not always cracking jokes, his reactions to certain moments feel pure and honest, which makes you smile on the inside and out. Given the mission he embarks on to survive, the film will have you on the edge of your seat. That may sound cliché, but it’s undeniably the truth. Combined with the story, his character, and the environment, it’s the perfect recipe for horror comedy entertainment that most studios should take note of.
If you weren’t aware, this film is about survival during a deadly viral outbreak throughout parts of the world. The world is filled with bloody, mutated zombies that will stop at nothing to devour everything in their path. Their designs are some of the more creative-looking creatures in Hollywood, even competing with classics like The Thing (1982), starring Kurt Russell. These monsters are so intimidating and look like they’ll kill you if you just look in their direction. It’s not enough to say they’re frightening. They appear to come from the depths of hell. These are the obstacles that our hero, Bryan, must face, and you just want him to survive.
Unfortunately, what makes the opening so effective abruptly stops a little less than halfway through the film when Paul Walter Hauser shows up. He’s a fine actor, but once he becomes involved, the film loses much of its horror and shifts into a straight comedy. The tonal change feels random and completely out of place. It’s a similar issue to what Zach Cregger did in Barbarian, but this time, the shift hurts the film even more. The first act successfully balances horror and comedy, but the remaining runtime leans too heavily into humor that isn’t consistently funny. Although the monsters remain repulsive and visually disturbing, their threat becomes less effective as the film fills itself with unnecessary comedic moments and silly tropes.
What makes matters worse is the third act. Just like Barbarian, the story takes a direction that left me questioning what the director was thinking. The film abandons much of the logic and tension established earlier, making several of its decisions feel completely disconnected from what came before. It’s as if a different creative team took over and decided to make an entirely different movie. By this point, I was beyond frustrated. The film had so much potential, yet the final act dismantled nearly everything that made the opening so effective. I personally hated the ending, which is a shame because this could have been something truly special.
It’s heartbreaking writing about this. The film started out as a literal 10 out of 10 cinematic masterpiece that could have been a contender for one of the best films of the year. However, the execution gradually falls apart, and by the end, the experience becomes incredibly frustrating. The biggest problem is the lack of consistency. If the film had maintained the tone, tension, and creativity established during its opening act, it could have been exceptional. Instead, the later decisions undermine the story and leave the audience with a disappointing conclusion. In the end, Resident Evil feels like a missed opportunity and a disappointing waste of the potential it initially displayed.
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