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Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ earns praise for blending survival horror, dark comedy and game-inspired storytelling effectively.
Austin Abrams receives strong attention for his performance as protagonist Bryan amid escalating supernatural and monstrous threats.
Critics remain divided over the film’s runtime, character development, scares and narrative depth throughout its fast-paced story.
Zach Cregger’s new ‘Resident Evil’ film arrived to largely positive reviews, with critics praising its blend of survival horror, dark humour, gruesome creature design and video-game-inspired storytelling. The film, starring Austin Abrams, takes a different approach to the long-running franchise while attempting to capture the experience of playing the games.
Directed by Cregger, known for Barbarian and Weapons, the new ‘Resident Evil’ does not directly adapt a particular game storyline. Instead, the filmmaker recreates the structure and atmosphere associated with the survival-horror series.
The story follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a medical courier who finds himself caught in a terrifying outbreak while transporting an important package to a medical facility in Raccoon City. What begins as an ordinary delivery quickly turns into a fight for survival involving zombies, mutated creatures and increasingly bizarre threats.
Critics have particularly highlighted the film's ability to translate video-game mechanics into cinematic storytelling. TheWrap described it as a major achievement for video-game adaptations, noting how the film captures the strange combination of terror and absurdity associated with the games.
Abrams also received considerable praise for his performance. Rather than presenting Bryan as a conventional action hero, the film puts an ordinary, inexperienced man at the center of the chaos.
The Guardian highlighted Abrams' everyman quality, noting how his character's repeated mistakes and panic make him relatable while adding humour to the horror. The performance also allows Cregger to approach the story from the perspective of someone essentially learning how to survive a video game in real time.
His performance is praised by RogerEbert.com, which noted that Abrams successfully portrays Bryan as someone struggling to understand the increasingly impossible situations around him.
Cregger's film reportedly embraces graphic violence and body horror while frequently switching between frightening and funny moments. Critics compared its tonal balance to filmmakers such as Sam Raimi, particularly in the way horror and comedy coexist.
The creature work also emerged as a talking point. Reviews mention grotesque mutations, zombie attacks and bizarre monsters, with the film progressively escalating its threats as Bryan moves from one survival challenge to another.
However, not every review is completely enthusiastic. Time Out argued that the film is more goofy and visually impressive than genuinely frightening, while also suggesting that its plotting is relatively thin.
At around 90 minutes, the film keeps its story moving quickly. Screen Daily described it as a high-octane, back-to-basics reboot that cuts through the franchise's extensive mythology and attempts to reset the series.
RogerEbert.com, meanwhile, praised its lean structure but suggested that the movie could have benefited from additional material, particularly toward the conclusion.
The critical response is strongly positive overall. Rotten Tomatoes' critics consensus praises the film for combining memorable scares with Abrams' comic timing, calling it a fast-moving tribute to the experience of playing a genuinely frightening video game.
At the same time, reviews indicate that viewers expecting a direct adaptation of familiar characters such as Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield may find Cregger's approach different. The film instead uses a new protagonist and builds its identity around the mechanics, atmosphere and escalating challenges associated with ‘Resident Evil.’
Also Read: Why Resident Evil 4 Remake is Still the Gold Standard for Remakes
Zach Cregger's ‘Resident Evil’ appears to have struck a balance between franchise familiarity and a fresh cinematic approach. Critics have singled out its pacing, practical horror, creature designs, dark comedy and Austin Abrams' performance, while some have questioned its relatively short runtime, limited character development and uneven scares.
For now, the reviews suggest that Cregger's version is less interested in retelling an existing ‘Resident Evil’ story and more focused on recreating what makes the games themselves so entertaining: limited resources, unpredictable monsters, escalating danger and the desperate need to keep moving.
What is Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ about?
The film follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a medical courier caught in a terrifying outbreak involving zombies, mutated creatures and escalating supernatural threats.
Who stars in ‘Resident Evil’?
Austin Abrams leads the film as Bryan, an ordinary medical courier forced to survive an outbreak while confronting increasingly dangerous creatures and bizarre situations.
How have critics reacted to ‘Resident Evil’?
Critics have largely praised the film’s blend of survival horror, dark comedy, creature design and video-game-inspired storytelling, although some concerns remain about pacing and scares.
Is ‘Resident Evil’ directly based on a game?
No. Cregger’s film does not directly adapt one specific game storyline, instead recreating the atmosphere, mechanics, escalating threats and survival-focused experience associated with the franchise.
What are critics saying about Austin Abrams’ performance?
Critics have highlighted Abrams’ everyman performance, particularly his portrayal of Bryan as inexperienced and frightened, while his comic timing adds humour to the film’s increasingly chaotic horror.
