Resident Evil
Rating: 4.5/5
By: Nathaniel Simpson
Zach Cregger has established himself as one of the most prolific filmmakers in the horror genre today. With Weapons and Barbarian, Cregger proved that he had what it took to craft a terrifying horror story and make the audiences fall in love with these characters and this world he sets up. Therefore, he seemed like the only logical choice to craft a new film around the iconic horror video game franchise, Resident Evil. Once again partnering with Austin Abrams for this film, Resident Evil is easily one of the most fun horror movies to come out of this year. While the story may not be as strong as his two previous films, Cregger once again proves why he is a major voice in the horror genre of this generation, and I hope there is no slowing down for him anytime soon.
The movie follows Abrams' Bryan, a courier who delivers organs and other medical items to different hospitals. He describes his job as being a "glorified postmates" driver, and he accepts one more job for the night as he is delivering vital organs to a young boy. However, when he hits a monster-like person with his car and is forced to go on the run from creatures of the same nature, Bryan soon realizes this isn't any normal job he has taken on, and this will change him for the rest of his life.
I am a fan of horror video games, but I have only really played Resident Evil 7 as I heard it was the scariest game of the series. Throughout that game, however, I enjoyed the gameplay style and story that the game had to offer, and Cregger demonstrates how big a fan of the games he is here. This movie, which like I said, has a very straightforward story, could easily fit perfectly into a game of the same name. Cregger understands the kind of film he is making, and while he could have easily crafted a sophisticated and nonlinear story like his other movies, he decides to cater this to the fans of the franchise. He crafts a horror films that the fans deserved, and this is easily one of the most crowd-pleasing horror films of the year.
I adore the first-person shooter shots, Bryan's hunt for ammo and guns, and of course, the little easter eggs that are present here. The entire movie is meant to feel like we are following Bryan along this trek, just like how we would be controlling his character in a video game. In my opinion, this is the only video game film I have seen where I think the campy, video game elements work from beginning to end. The film never runs out of steam or becomes dull; there are already jumpscares and a terrifying chase sequence before the title cards even appear. Cregger is able to craft this story to keep the viewers eyeballs glued to the screen, and even after the credits roll, we are left demanding more.
I think that is the only complaint I truly do have with this movie. While I think the pacing is perfect and the story moves so smoothly, it feels like the film abruptly ends. I was honestly shocked when the final credits started because I was left wondering, "is that it?" I think the movie could have benefited from a bigger or longer climatic finale, and I wish there was a little more of a resolution to follow the climatic ending. I don't think this hinders the rest of the movie and how well the story runs, but it was a little gripe of mine when I was walking out of the theater.
I genuinely mean this when I say I think Abrams' gave perhaps one of my favorite horror performance of the year. This genuinely might be his best performance, and I applaud Cregger for giving him a chance to lead a movie by himself. Bryan is in every scene of this movie, and he is fantastic at fully embodying this character. He is hilarious when he needs to be, and his self-doubt and fear of what is going on is elegantly on display here. Abrams gives a performance that feels so incredibly grounded and real, and I think this is a perfect example of how a real-life person would act in this situation. I'm tired of seeing these characters instantly turn into a badass when it starts to go down, and Abrams' character is such a great representation of how people would actually act if they were in his shoes. At the same time, I think the supporting cast, which consists of Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis are all great additions.
Cregger does a terrific job of pulling out all the stops with the scares here too. I've said it before and I'll say it again - those in comedy make damn good horror filmmakers. This is due to them understanding how to balance the horror with comedy, making neither feel too worn out or have overstayed their welcome. The comedy and the horror work hand-in-hand here to craft a movie that has a little something for everybody. The tones of this movie are so incredibly balanced that it makes you wonder how Cregger makes this look so effortless?
I knew I was going to love this picture going into it, and somehow it still managed to amaze me. I had such a wonderful time at the theater watching this one, and I'm already planning my next rewatch for this film. It has all of the aspects that made his other two films so great, while also being so accessible to a wider audience. I think this is easily one of the best horror films of the year so far, and I think this one could be a fan-favorite in his cinematography.
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