Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is S-tier video game adaptation fare with big scares, bigger laughs, and a gloriously gruesome gallery of horrors! Yep, the director of Weapons once again brings his signature dynamic filmmaking style to the table - seamlessly shifting from chaotic comedy scenarios to tense, unpredictable horror. And there’s actually a pretty even balance of laughs and frights here. Plus, the movie leans hard into its video game roots without ever feeling like it’s simply copying the games beat-for-beat. You see, Cregger absolutely nails the look, feel, and rhythm of the “Resident Evil” experience by mimicking the pacing, level progression, and iconic survival mechanics that have defined the franchise for decades. Now, is it adapting one specific plot from the source material? No - and it’s all the better for it. Instead, with our “everyman” protagonist trying to navigate the madness unfolding around him, it feels like we (the audience) have been thrust directly into the game, complete with first-person POVs, deliberate obstacles, and one increasingly insane challenge after another. The movie even embraces things like weapon progression and upgraded creature threats - making the whole thing feel like we’re moving from one increasingly dangerous level to the next. And yes, those signature creatures are every bit as grotesque, creepy, and nightmare-inducing as you’d hope. It certainly helps that there was reportedly heavy use of practical design and effects to bring these monsters to life. It definitely gives the horrors on screen a tangible, nasty quality that makes that gnarly creature work hit even harder. And, well, it all builds toward a chaotic finale filled with gore, splatter, and blood and guts galore. All that to say, OG fans shouldn’t worry about familiar characters being absent in this adaptation — because in a way, WE are the main character. It’s basically the cinematic equivalent of picking up the controller and being dropped into the nightmare ourselves. Of course, that’s all made possible through the wonderful work of Austin Abrams, who plays our reluctant hero Bryan. Abrams is sensational, balancing equal parts desperation and determination as this very ordinary guy is forced to deal with some very extraordinary horrors. It’s basically his show from start to finish, and he makes Bryan someone worth rooting for from the get-go. The movie isn’t void of things to say, either, with Cregger offering compelling themes around responsibility and survival against systemic corporate threats. There’s also the relentless weight of Murphy’s Law, where seemingly every possible thing that can go wrong DOES go wrong. But, perhaps most important of all is that this is simply, undeniably entertaining. Yep, it’s nothing short of balls (and blood and guts) to the wall fun!