The Verge says Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil revives survival horror
The Austin Abrams-led adaptation combines comedy with horror while returning Capcom’s franchise to its game-inspired fundamentals.
Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil film uses horror and comedy to revisit the survival-horror foundations of Capcom’s video game franchise, according to The Verge. The film is due in cinemas on 18 September, although the Australian release timing requires confirmation.
The story follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, whose journey towards Raccoon City becomes a fight for survival. Bryan is a civilian character created for the film, rather than a trained agent, and the review says that choice keeps the focus on the vulnerability at the heart of survival horror.
The Verge says Cregger uses humour to heighten the film’s scares rather than replace them. Bryan’s encounters with infected humans and other creatures are framed as both disturbing and absurd, while his limited weapons and ammunition reinforce the feel of playing Resident Evil for the first time.
The film includes references to Capcom’s games but is designed to work as a standalone story, the review says. Its indoor sequences, involving searches through buildings and dark hallways, are described as particularly suspenseful.
The Verge places Cregger’s film within the broader evolution of video game adaptations. Compared with The Last of Us and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it is less focused on expansive character development or large-scale set pieces, instead using a more direct approach to reinterpret familiar game elements.
The review also says the film leaves room for further cinematic exploration while functioning as a complete story. It follows earlier Resident Evil films, including Paul W.S. Anderson’s 2002 release, which attracted audiences but was criticised by some fans for departing from the games.
