Director: Zach Cregger
Starring: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser
Certificate: 15
Run Time: 94 mins
Resident Evil is the second reboot of the popular video game franchise, after the first attempt in 2021 failed critically. This reboot has an ace up its sleeve though in the form of director Zach Cregger. Cregger has proven himself in the horror genre twice now, with the excellent Barbarian and the even-better Weapons, which was my best film of 2025 and earned Amy Madigan a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. So why was he interested in directing a new Resident Evil film, when none of the previous efforts have been particularly liked? Well, it turns out Cregger is a lifelong fan of the videogame series and had a novel idea, wanting to replicate and explore the structural and narrative conventions of the series. This is a stripped-back 94 minute affair, with Austin Abrams starring as a medical courier, Bryan, who’s tasked with delivering a last-minute package to Raccoon City General Hospital.
Cregger has achieved the impossible – not only has he directed what’s easily the best Resident Evil film, he’s redefined how to adapt a video game for the big screen. This is a lean and mean thrill ride that hasn’t got an ounce of fat on it that really captures the feeling of playing the games with Dariusz Wolski’s kinetic camerawork. It’s particularly impressive how Cregger fully fleshes out Bryan as a character and equally makes him feel like a main character in a video game, where the camera will often pivot as he surveys his surroundings for threat, like a player would in a game. If Austin Abrams hadn’t already made a name for himself with Weapons, he’s certainly done so here with his earnest and empathetic performance.
There’s some terrific set pieces too, dripping with visual style and it’s a surprisingly funny film too, at times, be it from the odd character quip, the preposterous amount of blood or the absurdity of some of the monstrous creatures. Cregger also showcases his horror chops with some particularly fresh and unexpected jump scares. The film’s held together by Hays and Ryan Holladay’s score, which is clearly indebted to John Carpenter, although it’s a shame that some of the more experimental singles on the soundtrack haven’t made it into the film.
Resident Evil is a single-minded and superbly directed A-to-B thrill ride from start to finish. Although it’s not a film that requires its themes unpacking like Barbarian and Weapons, this showcases Cregger’s versatility and opting for this straightforward approach is the best thing he could have done for a property such as this. If there’s a flaw, it might be that the film peaks in its first act with Bryan driving his car through a snowy landscape and leaving a house – a rewatch will reveal if this is the case. But either way, Resident Evil is a giddily fun time and Cregger has achieved the impossible.
