Movie Review: ‘Resident Evil’ (Second Opinion)

Plot: From director Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) and inspired by the long running video game series from Capcom, Resident Evil follows the exploits of bumbling medical courier Bryan (Austin Abrams). When Bryan agrees to deliver a last-minute but lucrative package to Raccoon City, he unknowingly thrusts himself into a nightmare scenario. As Bryan attempts to deliver his package, he soon discovers that a biological outbreak has Racoon City in its grips and the populace has mutated into zombie-like creatures. Even worse, Bryan himself has been infected. As the situation escalates and time begins to run out, Bryan will have to gather his resources and harness his resourcefulness before it’s too late.

Review: The Resident Evil video game series is inextricably tied to my marriage. That may sound crazier than an Umbrella executive on cocaine, but it’s true. Many moons ago in the year of our Lord 20 aught 5, the first Christmas present my then girlfriend (now wife) Megan ever bought me was Resident Evil 4. I’d heretofore never played any of the Resident Evil games, but I just happened to mention in passing that it looked interesting. From the minute I loaded the game I was immediately hooked. To be perfectly honest, I’m lucky my relationship survived because I feel like I ignored Megan while I slowly made my way through the game, blasting my way through zombies as protagonist Leon S. Kennedy and saving the President’s daughter.  Ever since then I’ve been a fan of the franchise and while they haven’t all been winners (Resident Evil 6 is one of the worst games I’ve ever played), they’ve held my interest for over twenty years.

The film franchise is a different story. They’ve ranged from at best mediocre to at worst borderline unwatchable. I get they have their fans and Milla Jovovich was often badass, but whenever I watched one of those films, I always wished I was playing the game instead. So, it was kind of surprising to me that one of the more interesting and up-and-coming horror directors, Zach Cregger, was going to helm a reboot. To be honest, Cregger was the only reason I had any interest in the project. Cregger is a self-professed Resident Evil fanatic and emphatically stated that none of the legacy characters like Chris and Claire Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, Albert Wesker, etc. would appear. While those facts did pique my interest, would the actual finished product deliver?

I’m overjoyed to say that this particular iteration of Resident Evil far and away exceeded my expectations. Thrilling, fast-paced, impeccably shot, and sporting a brilliant performance from Austin Abrams, Zach Cregger has crafted a lean and mean story that pays homage to the source material while simultaneously offering an original and unique story.

What Zach Cregger and co-writer Shay Hatten (John Wick Chapter 4, Army of the Dead) did was nothing short of remarkable. They delivered a horror film that gives you the feeling that you’re playing a Resident Evil game without making you wish you were. Resident Evil possesses the perfect balance of classic jump-scare horror and comedy. You’d think this modality has been done to death, but Cregger and company find a way to reinvigorate the sub-genre with new life. Resident Evil isn’t subtle, but it’s not meant to be. Additionally, at a tight 94 minutes with credits, Cregger’s film never overstays its welcome and the perfect pacing keeps the foot on the gas almost the entire time.

What really struck me while watching Resident Evil was the visual feast that was the cinematography. Whether it was the third person tracking shots that made you feel like you were in the game, an insane gauntlet run by Bryan down a Racoon City street while infected are trying to dive bomb him, or the ominous quiet solitude of an abandoned house in the woods on a cold winter night, I was enamored. Imagine my shock when I discovered the cinematography was performed by none other than Dariusz Wolski, director Ridley Scott’s long-time DP partner and noted for such works as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Martian, and A Perfect Murder. You can also see the influences of two other classic films he DPed, The Crow and Dark City. Combined with the surehanded editing of Joe Murphy and a pitch perfect creepy score from Hays and Ryan Holladay, the result is an eerie, playful, and propulsive vibe that never loses its sense of dread.

Yet none of my previously mentioned critiques would mean anything, if not for the captivating performance by Austin Abrams as Bryan. Essentially, Resident Evil is the Austin Abrams Show. Although True Detective’s Kali Reis does make an appearance as Umbrella enforcer Makie, and character actor Paul Walter Hauser delivers a hilariously memorable turn as Umbrella executive Paul, the bulk of Resident Evil is carried by Abrams. And boy does he deliver. A lovable schlub that’s having quite literally the worst day of his life, Bryan is an endearing character that we laugh with and root for the whole way. Despite being in extraordinary circumstances, Bryan’s somebody we can relate and empathize with throughout the movie. Not only is he dealing with an escalating shit show where everything that can go wrong does go wrong, Bryan also contends with the bombshell that his girlfriend is pregnant. This adds an extra narrative layer and makes for one of the more emotionally resonant scenes late in the film. Abrams is unquestionably the real deal and I’m eagerly awaiting his turn in next month’s Whalefall.

I would like to make one note on the ending. While I won’t ruin the film by revealing any major plot points, I will say that the conclusion may disappoint some fans. However, as a huge fan of brutal and ambiguous 1980s film endings, particularly the works of John Carpenter, I absolutely loved the ending and 100% got what Cregger and company were going for.  

Resident Evil was an absolute blast and proves once again that Zach Cregger is a director worth his salt. It’s one of the most fun experiences I’ve had at the movies all year. Don’t miss it.

My rating system:

1 God Awful Blind Yourself With Acid Bad

2 Straight Garbage

3 Bad

4 Sub Par

5 Average

6 Ok

7 Good

8 Great

9 Excellent

10 A Must See

Masterpiece

Resident Evil: 9/10