Follows a hapless courier tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital. He soon finds himself caught in the middle of an outbreak and must fight through hordes of mutated creatures to survive.
Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” stands as the single greatest video game movie adaptation yet. I say that as a lifelong fan of the series. The franchise is reborn under the vision of a director who has, with this, “Weapons,” and “Barbarian,” proven to be a generational horror talent.
Austin Abrams stars as the solitary lead, Bryan, a medical courier tasked with bringing a vital package to the heart of Raccoon City. What unfolds on his journey is nothing short of hell on Earth. Abrams delivers a relatable, vulnerable, and wonderfully funny performance in an incomprehensible situation.
Once the scares start, they never stop. Some will truly make your skin crawl. “Resident Evilö is a roller coaster of scares and laughs. The humor buffers the truly grotesque imagery and nightmarish monster designs. For the most part, these creatures are original to the film and haven’t been seen in any of the games, which means RE buffs will never know what to expect. This story expertly captures the spirit of the storied franchise but doesn’t give gamers a 1-to-1 adaptation. This tasteful move enhances the terror and will entertain gamers and casual horror fans alike.
Toward the end, I felt a little exhausted. Even though the film runs just 95 minutes, the final act is a little too CG-heavy—almost cartoonish. This contrasts with the mostly practical effects that preceded it without completely undercutting it. The audience will root for Bryan, and the ending sustains the tone of dread, but I also found it a little frustrating. This is really my only true complaint with what is otherwise another horror masterpiece from Cregger.
With no shortage of creative monster designs, set pieces, and a tasteful approach to the RESIDENT EVIL mythos, this is a must-see film for all horror lovers.
In Theaters Friday, September 18th
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