Resident Evil Hits Theaters In All Its Gory Glory

To preface: I have not played a single “Resident Evil” game. My expectations mostly came from the campy clips of games I’d seen, Nemesis and Chris Redfield’s appearance in “Marvel vs Capcom” and the mix of comedy and horror that I’ve come to expect from filmmaker Zach Cregger’s previous work. None of these prepared me for my theater experience of “Resident Evil.”

The “Resident Evil” franchise’s most popular characters tend to be more quippy and capable, but Bryan, the film’s protagonist played by Austin Abrams, has very realistic reactions to the horrors he faces on his journey. I assume this is how it feels to play Resident Evil for the first time. 

Cregger doesn’t present you with anything expecting you to already know what it is – he prioritizes making a good movie over making a good video game adaptation. While there are concepts, names and locations from the source material, no canon stories are expanded on and no recognizable characters appear. 

The other especially notable thing about this film is the body horror. If you were at all squeamish during the Circe scene in “The Odyssey,” this movie will probably disturb you in more ways than one. After the first few scenes where only typical humanoid zombies appear, stranger and more gruesome mutants become more and more common. These freakish mutations add more than just shock value though, they make Bryan seem inconsequential and desperate, cranking up the terror that much more. Flesh writhes, bones snap, faces split open and tendrils meld with victims. If any of that makes you a bit uneasy, be ready for that and worse. 

If you’re unaware, Cregger didn’t get his start directing horror movies, but as a co-creator on “Whitest Kids U’Know,”a sketch comedy series from the late ‘90s. While “Resident Evil” and Cregger’s 2025 film “Weapons” – which I highly recommend if you haven’t seen it – are not comedies by any means, Cregger’s expertise in comedy and timing shows through in both. If you do watch “Resident Evil,” there will be some moments that will make you laugh. 

Abrams’ performance as Bryan is easily one of the best things about the movie. Bryan tries to cope with the stress of his situation, but ends up making bad decisions, which we’ve all done and laughed about later. When you expect a jump scare, a cut to Bryan eating cereal is that much funnier. Bryan’s comedic moments in the film lift the mood when it seems dire, but they also make any losses feel that much more heartbreaking. 

Cregger understands horror thrives on tension and keeps characters just inches away from their goals to achieve it. Victory is so incredibly close until the last few minutes, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I drank an energy drink before I went to the theater and in the second half I could feel it pounding out of my chest – a mistake I hope to never make again. 

Between the reports of my friends, online reviews and my own thoughts on the movie, the ending can be divisive. I can see how it may be unsatisfying to some, but I saw it as a fitting, if not bitter, end.

“Resident Evil” is a film for people who enjoy the games it is based on, especially “Resident Evil 2”, but also anyone who enjoys Zach Cregger’s “Weapons,” grotesque body horror and being not just scared, but horrified. I rate the film a full five out of five, but your enjoyment may vary depending on whether or not you shudder when you hear the word “pustule.”