Resident Evil Review Rating:
Star Cast: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser.
Director: Zach Cregger
What’s Good: The cinematography offers striking visuals that effectively capture the dread of finding oneself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What’s Bad: The protagonist lacks depth, and true to Cregger’s previous work, the picture eventually morphs into a comedy, stripping away its horror elements.
Loo Break: At a lean 90 minutes, this fast-paced experience leaves no need for an intermission.
Watch or Not?: Recommended if you enjoy Cregger’s earlier films or are looking for an entertaining theatrical outing.
Language: English (with subtitles)
Available On: Theaters
Runtime: 94 Minutes
User Rating:
Opening:
As one of the most successful video game franchises globally, Resident Evil cemented creator Capcom’s status among the industry’s most respected names. However, their cinematic ventures have proven rocky, yielding a commercially viable yet widely mocked film series alongside a completely unsuccessful Monster Hunter adaptation. Now, in 2026, both major Capcom properties return to the big screen, inspiring hope for better results.
Resident Evil Movie Review: Script Analysis
Zach Cregger has emerged as a prominent voice in modern cinema, building recent momentum through Barbarian and last year’s Weapons. Both projects achieved massive success and turned Cregger into a household name via an unconventional, stream-of-consciousness writing technique that prioritizes surprise over narrative consistency and coherence.
Cregger applies this exact approach to Resident Evil. Anticipating this style, I approached the film—despite personally disliking both Barbarian and Weapons—willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Rather than translating specific characters or lore, he sought to replicate the subjective experience of playing the games. While the project suffers from the same inconsistencies as his past efforts, the resulting feature proves enjoyable in a way those predecessors did not.
Keeping the narrative as straightforward as possible, Cregger bypasses character development entirely. The picture focuses purely on circumstance as our lead, Bryan, endures the worst day of his life—resembling a horror-themed Gravity—while an unrelenting barrage of obstacles tests the protagonist.
By translating the actual mechanics of gameplay to the screen, Cregger incorporates humorous winks at design tropes, though this comedic shift eventually eclipses the horror entirely. While entertaining, it ceases to function as a horror movie, feeling more like an adaptation titled “Playing Resident Evil.” This choice limits its depth, leaving viewers wanting a proper horror-house adaptation of the original game.
Resident Evil Movie Review: Star Performance
Austin Abrams anchors the entire production from start to finish. Although audiences learn very little about his character, his commanding screen presence makes viewers genuinely root for his escape from Raccoon City.
Additional figures drift in and out primarily as flavor text or video game NPCs, offering minimal dramatic performances. That said, several creature designs excel, delivering some of the project’s standout moments through their physical presence alone.
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Resident Evil Movie Review: Direction, Music
Cregger’s version of Gravity within the Resident Evil universe highlights two major takeaways. First, his writing demands refinement: while unexpected turns sustain immediate engagement, the script falls apart upon post-viewing reflection outside the theater.
Second, Cregger excels at visual storytelling, which remains his greatest asset here. Inventive framing and striking camerawork set the project apart from contemporary horror cinema. Though it functions more like a thrill ride than a traditional film, the striking visuals ultimately deliver an undeniably fun watch.
Resident Evil Movie Review: The Last Word
Resident Evil stands as my preferred Cregger feature, largely due to my affinity for the franchise and his bold choice to adapt the sensation of gaming rather than rigid source lore—though one hopes this doesn’t set a precedent for future video game adaptations. Regardless, it makes for an enjoyable theatrical experience.
Resident Evil Trailer
Resident Evil released on 18th September, 2026.
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