Another year, another Resident Evil project. Whether that be a new entry in the video game franchise, a TV series, an animated film, or a feature film. With the exception of the games, which have been on a hot streak for the last decade or so, the beloved horror franchise has struggled in other mediums in some capacity. Now, it’s Zach Cregger, director of Weapons, to try and remedy this franchise’s track record in live-action. Does he succeed? Let’s find out.
Resident Evil takes place against the backdrop of Resident Evil 2 (the game), but instead of adapting that game or using characters from any of the games, Cregger has opted to tell a new story with a new protagonist that takes place at the same time that Leon and Claire are investigating in the game. This time around, we follow Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who is fired at the last minute to bring a package to Racoon City’s hospital. It’s last minute, and it’s late, so it pays extra, so of course Bryan accepts. He probably wishes he didn’t.
What Cregger did so brilliantly and yet so subtly was make this an engaging playthrough of a video game. Bryan is the player character and actually spends most of the movie on his own, reacting and talking to himself. He starts the movie with no skills or knowledge, but as the film progresses, he effectively “levels up” by gaining new weapons, skills, and understanding. This could be a real problem for most movies, as there’s very little in the way of characterization for Bryan, but Abrams plays the role so well that you’re on board with this journey of survival.
Cregger also makes the movie a treat to look at. There’s great use of lighting throughout the movie, and the camera is constantly moving through the space. Sometimes, the camera replicates traditional video camera angles, such as first person or third person with the camera over the protagonist’s right shoulder. It’s also really bloody and gory, with a lot of it seeming to be practical. There’s a lot of love for the franchise too, from a typewriter on a desk to a green box of shotgun shells hidden in a drawer, to lock and keys. There’s even a new stalker enemy, and the overall monster designs throughout, while limited, do capture the spirit of a good Resident Evil monstrosity, with eyeballs and tentacles for days.
The movie is also shockingly funny. I wasn’t prepared for how much I laughed watching this. You may be thinking, well, that seems out of place, but the humour works. Bryan is largely alone after all, so his reactions to these horrific and bizarre occurrences often lean into the absurdity and keep the movie from feeling too dour and ambient. It’s not MCU-esque quips, but more WTF reactionary. And it works.
In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this interpretation of Resident Evil. It’s a wholly original story that works both for fans and for those who just want a good horror movie. It’s surprisingly funny and is bolstered by a great turn by Austin Abrams as Bryan and an ending that subverted expectations. In terms of video game adaptations that capture the spirit of playing a game, this one is peerless. Great time!
