Resident Evil, arguably the most famous horror video game franchise has had a tough run when being given the live action treatment. Capcom’s game series, which includes 13 mainline games and over 30 all together including spin-offs and remakes, have plenty of source material to pull from. A survival horror and first-person shooter franchise, focused on zombies and mutated creatures, initially was being brought to film by the master of the zombie sub-genre, George A. Romero, but was passed on in favour of starting a franchise helmed by Paul W.S Anderson. Set in the world of the games, but focused on an original character and original storyline, the 6-film saga largely received negative reviews but was a massive success at the box office. The films were unpopular with fans of the franchise, critical of the film’s sidelining of the games’ main characters and how detached the overall narrative felt to the source material. Five years after the release of the final entry of the Anderson’ franchise came another stab at the horror juggernaut, this time known as Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Starring the famous characters from the game like Chris and Claire Redfield, Albert Wesker and Leon Kennedy, the film served as a direct adaptation of the games’ narrative.
Still being faced with mixed reviews however from the spotty special effects and the film’s messy narrative from attempting to adapt elements from four separate games, the film’s sequels would be shelved. After a failed Netflix series following, which was cancelled after one season, a new Resident Evil movie has finally opened in cinemas once again. Directed by Zach Cregger, hot off his success with surprise hit Weapons, the film has been a hot topic with internet discussion. Lacking any characters from the game series but taking inspiration from the gameplay and taking place concurrent with the games, the game has sparked outcry from fans of the franchise because of this. However, what has come out is easily the best movie in the franchise and clearly made by someone who loves the franchise.
Resident Evil follows Bryan, a medical courier who is pulled into one last job on the night shift, to bring a mysterious package to Raccoon City. When arriving at the City, he is pulled head-long into the outbreak that is taking place, as he must survive legions of mutated zombies. Cregger’s inspiration for this movie is clearly to recreate the feeling of playing the games and the various elements of the survival horror gameplay experience rather than adapting one of the game’s actual stories. This direction allows the film to have a life of its own, it is clearly made by someone who enjoys these types of games, focusing on resource management, a scramble to escape rather than fight, and the counting down of each bullet as each bullet counts. It is covered in Resident Evil homages and easter eggs as well, without ever going to far, this is no Marvel movie, there is no cameos but there are plenty of clear references. The main character, played by Austin Abrams, is no Chris Redfield or Leon Kennedy, he’s no expert fighter, he is a loser who screams and cries at everything that happens, and pure lucks his way out of situations. His character seems to be very divisive, but he really works here, if Cregger’s intention here was to focus the film on almost a NPC you would meet in one of the games, that is a perfect description for this character.
Abrams delivers a very fun performance throughout, a very versatile actor who can work up the charm to make his messy character likeable, while also pulling off both the comedic and dramatic elements of the script. He is essentially a one-man band for the entire film, with actors like Zach Cherry, Paul Walter Hauser and Kali Reis only appearing for one scene each to give across some valuable exposition. The inclusion of the former two actors does fall slightly too far into giving the audience all the answers, with their only role to be the exposition machines for people who have not played the games and do not know what is going on. However the incredibly fast paced nature of the film allows them to enter and leave the film as fast as possible, the film is only 90 minutes and benefits from that short runtime.
It only takes 10 minutes for the first encounter, and then the film does not let up for the rest of the time, with so many grandiose horror sequences. The film blends the various elements of the games so perfectly, mixing the action with the horror incredibly well, and having time for a lot of comedy as well. Cregger has stated that he had to cut various comedy elements after test screenings, with test audiences deeming the film too funny, but so many comedic elements remain. It would be easy to see the film as comedy first, and horror second, but there is still a plenty amount of tension and pure shocks coming from the film.
It is clear to see the inspirations for this film, namely how the initial infected villain acts like a deadite from the Evil Dead franchise, with Evil Dead II being a clear inspiration. Once the movie arrives at Raccoon City in the second act, that’s when the movie showcases its body horror and effects that seem to be homages to John Carpenter’s The Thing. There are zombies all over this film, but Cregger seems more interested in the opportunities to feature body horror, and mutated tentacles and body parts that are also common in the games. The body horror is excellent, and there is great amount of gore for anyone who comes to these horror films for so. Cregger has also an excellent handle behind the camera, there are so many inventive sequences across this, and a excellent control around sound. The opening sequence is easily one of the highlights, a sequence lit just by the red lights of a car, enveloping everything in this eerie colour and everything else in darkness. A sequence where a Bryan runs from zombies jumping off a building at him is eerie because of its loud sound, and a final sequence featuring him travelling around a mutated maternity clinic is memorable as well. Props must be given as well to Cregger and co-writer Shay Hatten’s script, which contains a very moving exploration into fatherhood and the fear of becoming a parent, pairing the infection with the destruction of family and security.
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil might not be the movie that fans of the franchise have been clamouring for, it is certainly not the 1:1 adaptation of the games they love so dearly. However, it is the closest a film has ever come to depict the language of video games on the big screen. Cregger clearly loves the franchise and fills the screen with his love through each intricately crafted horror sequence. Abrams shines in the leading role, and any fan who loves the horror genre for blood, gore and horrific body horror will get a kick out of this one, it is clearly another win for Cregger.
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