A New Era of Evil.
A New Era of Evil.
Directed by Zach Cregger, Resident Evil (2026) is a brutal, atmospheric, and wildly engrossing survival horror film that captures the fear and tension that made the games a phenomenon. Grounding the story through the eyes of an everyday man, the film delivers a satisfying mix of horror, action, and dark comedy. A game-inspired approach, immersive atmosphere, and spine-tingling creature work make every encounter eerie and unpredictable. While a few lore choices may divide longtime fans, the film truly feels like stepping behind the controller of a Resident Evil game, making it easily one of the franchise’s strongest adaptations to date.
Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier tasked with delivering a package to Raccoon City. What begins as a routine job quickly spirals into a nightmare when he discovers the city is in the midst of a deadly outbreak linked to the Umbrella Corporation. Stranded among infected civilians and grotesque mutations, Bryan learns that the package he’s carrying is more important than he initially thought. He must fight his way through the city while searching for answers before the situation spirals completely out of control.
One of Resident Evil’s smartest moves is placing an average civilian at the center of the story. Unease is felt throughout because Bryan isn’t a superhero, and he isn’t equipped for what he encounters. Rather than getting bogged down in franchise lore or legacy characters, Zach Cregger focuses on recreating what it’s actually like to play a Resident Evil game, from exploring dangerous locations to surviving one deadly encounter after another. The screenplay keeps things simple, prioritizing moment-to-moment survival over dense mythology, giving the film a claustrophobic ambience where resourcefulness is often the difference between life and death. Even with the horror and gore, the film never takes itself too seriously, balancing suspense with a welcome dose of dark humour and several highly effective jump scares. The third act loses a bit of steam, particularly during an over-the-top lab sequence, but Cregger never strays far from the film’s survival roots, making for a wild ride.
Austin Abrams stands out as Bryan, an ordinary guy who has absolutely no business surviving Raccoon City. Much of the film’s tension rests on his shoulders, and Abrams sells every moment with a believable mix of panic, frustration, and determination that makes Bryan relatable. In many ways, he’s like an NPC unwillingly promoted to main character, constantly stumbling into increasingly dangerous situations and somehow surviving them. That awkwardness gives the film much of its charm, and some of its funniest moments come from Bryan’s reactions to the insanity unfolding around him. Paul Walter Hauser and Zach Cherry provide a few welcome laughs during their limited screen time, but this is very much Abrams’ movie, and his performance is a big reason why it’s a blast from beginning to end. A new scream king in the making, he shines during the film’s frantic chase sequences and delivers some genuinely impressive screams.
Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski creates a cold, oppressive atmosphere through striking use of darkness, shadows, and dynamic lighting, particularly during the film’s snowy opening stretch. The contrast between the bright white snow, blood-red taillights, and pitch-black surroundings creates stunning imagery that perfectly captures the dread and isolation. At times, the camera puts viewers in a first-person perspective, creating a sense of playing a game rather than just observing from the sidelines. The creature effects are deeply unsettling, inspired by some of the franchise’s most monstrous designs and bringing them to life through beautifully realized practical effects, makeup, and puppetry. Several genuinely creepy sequences throughout are brought to life by strong sound design and an ominous score from Hays Holladay and Ryan Holladay. Even small touches, including a perfectly timed late title card, add to the experience. While the third act becomes a little messy, the film never loses its grip on the aesthetic, delivering a grimy vision of Raccoon City.
Few horror experiences this year have been as thrilling as Resident Evil. The performances, effects, visuals, and sound design all work in perfect harmony, while jump scares are so effective they had audiences physically jumping out of their seats. Another win for Zach Cregger, who continues an incredible run with Barbarian, Weapons, and now Resident Evil. Crowd-pleasing, horrifying, and endlessly entertaining, this is exactly how a Resident Evil movie should be done.
