Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Earns Raving First Reactions as a Goriest Video Game Adaptation Triumph

First Reactions and Critical Response to Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil

Members of the film press attending early screenings have praised the horror project as a relentless cinematic spectacle. According to Variety, Tomatometer critic EJ Moreno wrote on X that the film demands to be seen on the biggest screen with a big crowd, calling it a true horror blockbuster that showcases Cregger at his most fun and scariest.

Fellow critic Mark Cassidy noted via social media that the movie taps into the relentless tension of the games. Cassidy described the feature as very bloody and very funny, adding that it managed to make him jump at least three times. Film journalist Kellvin Chavez of SplashReport.com similarly shared a glowing review on X, stating that the picture has its foot on the gas from the opening scene and never hits the brakes. Chavez highlighted the relentless suspense, gloriously gory action, and Thing-esque creature designs, labeling it pure survival horror.

Cast, Creative Direction, and Franchise Context

The film reunites director Zach Cregger with his Weapons star Austin Abrams, who plays a medical courier tasked with making a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital during a zombie outbreak. According to Variety, Abrams plays an everyman caught in over his head, supported by a cast that includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. Cregger co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten.

The production departs from previous franchise entries by omitting established video game characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Jill Valentine. Cregger explained in an interview with Curry Barker, as reported by GamesRadar+, that the story takes place on the periphery of the second game as a parallel event in Raccoon City. Cregger admitted he was surprised by the divided online reaction from fans wanting traditional game characters, noting that sticking strictly to the established game narrative would not fulfill him creatively.

The upcoming release follows a franchise history that includes six films starring Milla Jovovich starting in 2002, and the 2021 reboot Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City directed by Johannes Roberts. Together, previous entries have grossed over $1.2 billion at the global box office.

Release Date and Adjustments

Sony Pictures has scheduled Resident Evil for a theatrical release on September 18. Ahead of the premiere, Cregger revealed in interviews covered by The Hollywood Reporter and PC Gamer that he had to dial down the jokes in the final cut because test audiences felt the picture leaned too heavily into comedy.