Evil Residents, Stoked Fans

Rarely do mediums of entertainment overlap without producing something cheesy. Take the long-standing trope of video gaming in movies, for example. They’ve always attributed the activity to a boy, either malnourished or overnourished, performing a seemingly complex set of combos on his controller, and maneuvering it like a steering wheel as if he was in the most important F1 race in the entirety of human history. Resident Evil (2026), though, incorporates video games in the film very differently. That is to say, the film masterfully presents itself to feel like playing one. However, the journey that led to this accomplishment was a mentally arduous one for fans. 

The Resident Evil video game franchise, created by Capcom in 1996, has gained its notoriety by pioneering the survival horror genre, characterized by scarce resources and tense environments. The franchise has gained much attention recently due to Capcom’s relentless release of quality titles like Resident Evil 7 (2017) and Resident Evil Requiem (2026), as well as their initiative to modernize their old games to better fit the standards of contemporary gaming, hence resulting in an abundance of remakes, most notably Resident Evil 2 (2019) and Resident Evil 4 (2023). Since their newer games have advanced to bring forth realistic graphics and face models, unlike the originals mostly released in the early 2000s, another surge in popularity for the franchise has come from the visual appeal of its characters, particularly Leon Kennedy.

When filmmaker Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil film was first announced in 2025, it roused an incredibly opinionated group of people, namely, the enthusiasts of the universe it takes inspiration from. This wasn’t news for veteran fans of the Resident Evil games, though. With an awkward portfolio of eight live-action movies, four CGI animated movies, one CGI animated short-film, and two television series, the Resident Evil title has been tampered with repeatedly by questionably zealous directors to try and extend the video game franchise into screen substance. Yet, almost all attempts have time and time again embarrassingly let down fans. 

Prior to Cregger’s adaptation of Resident Evil, directors relied on using the appearances of iconic faces of the video game franchise, like Leon, in their endeavors of making a commendable spin-off. Perhaps due to a clumsy adherence to their dispositions in the games or casting choices that did not feel well-thought-out, directors would always fall flat in depicting the pre-existing figures. And so, the fandom was left in hopes of a knight-in-shining-armor television buff to make an adaptation that faithfully translated their favorite characters into live-action. Naturally, when it was revealed that Cregger’s take followed its own narrative, did not play it safe to include any of the franchise’s mascots, and had its protagonist be a nobody, mixed feelings were incited. Nonetheless, upon the film’s release, doubts on the liberties Cregger would take were utterly disproven.

The film introduces us to Bryan, the main character who has accepted a concerning delivery job of a supposed human organ and has been caught up in the middle of an ordeal of the living dead. Cregger structures Bryan’s journey to evoke the experience of playing not just any game, but a Resident Evil game. The unfortunate Bryan explores zombie-ridden locations that resemble the games’ repetitive but classic situations such as escaping hordes of zombies and getting soggy in city sewers. In addition, the decision to make Bryan a normal guy facilitates the film’s relatability. His comically unseasoned use of handling weapons provokes audiences familiar with the games to reflect on their own level of proficiency. When playing a Resident Evil game, although you generally take on the role of a professional, the person controlling them is still the imperfect human behind the screen. And imperfect Bryan sure is. 

Whether it be portraying Bryan’s thrill after finding a shotgun, his frantic searching of all visible drawers and cabinets to find ammo, or his frustration from a failed attempt at trying to get past a padlock by shooting it—all canonical events every Resident Evil player has gone through—Cregger reassures critical aficionados that, yes, he has indeed played the games. For acquainted fans, the film feels impeccably enjoyable. Every reference that nods to player experience delightfully scratches an itch in the minds of those who have waited far too long for an adaptation that truly deserves the Resident Evil name in essence. Cregger makes fans sit on the edge of their seats in anticipation for more easter eggs, not once disappointing, and connecting to them from meaningful references that manifest universal experiences of the games, not just cosmetic ones that have normally been instilled in previous adaptations.

Yet with how resonant the film manages to be, it can be hard for unversed audiences to feel the same level of satisfaction. It still suffices as a horror film with its clever jumpscares and buildup of tension, but the heavy focus on the games can make the movie, although entertaining for the most part, a bit bland, given that references are overlooked. As a standalone, it’s easy to consider Resident Evil as uninventive with its seemingly conventional elements. Moreover, Cregger’s combination of horror and comedy, seen in Barbarian (2022) and Weapons (2025), is also demonstrated in Resident Evil. Deliberately or not, though, the humorous tones that are established in the film due to Cregger’s style fit the tone brought out by the corny one-liners of Resident Evil protagonists in the games. Depending on your knowledge of the franchise, Cregger’s interpretation is either quite fulfilling or quite flawed, which in itself is an unfortunate shortcoming. 

Resident Evil is a film that is rewarding for long-time fans, and Cregger is recognized as one of the first to exhibit the film’s roots faithfully. Although introducing a storyline that is independent from the games and having a protagonist who isn’t exactly formidable, Resident Evil is in the film’s veins and heart. But it is for that very reason that pitfalls exist. The film can both be seen as a tasteful addition to the Resident Evil dossier or another product of Cregger’s dissonance towards the horror genre that’ll eventually drown in memory. The Resident Evil film calls this issue into question when it comes to game-to-film adaptations: who should be prioritized? In the case of Resident Evil, Cregger’s answer is clearly the pining fans.