Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil pays homage to the games in an unexpected way despite what critics say about it.
Resident Evil is a survival-horror video game series from Capcom. Fans love it for its puzzle-solving, intertwined storylines, combat, and overall design. Above all, it’s still a story that Umbrella Corporation would love to hide. This adaptation of the popular game franchise still has Umbrella Corporation as the main cause of the mutating virus getting out in the world. The difference is the perspective, since as viewers, we’re seeing through the eyes of Bryan Hodukavich (Austin Abrams) rather than any of the popular characters like Ada Wong, Leon Kennedy, or the latest addition, Grace Ashcroft.
Despite all that, the film is still a great homage to the games. Join us as we take a look at the High Five reasons to watch the film. You know the drill: there may be spoilers ahead, so be warned!
A Step In The Right Direction for an Adaptation
The intricate storyline of Resident Evil dates back to 1998 where Umbrella Corporation accidentally released the bioweapon, T-Virus, into the atmosphere. Raccoon City becomes ground zero, and this very city is where Cregger’s adaptation starts. But it’s through the eyes of a delivery man while he’s thrust into the fray of everything scary and unholy with no training whatsoever. It’s the very likeness that the games make the players feel. From the puzzle-solving to the slow-motion reveal of monsters, Cregger’s film ticks all the boxes for an adaptation.
In a way, it’s similar to how Guillermo Del Toro adapted Frankenstein, wherein the soul of what the book is about is seen throughout the film. Cregger ensures that everything about the game is seen throughout the film either through point of view, dialog, and gore. The film really did the horror factor well, where you see blood erupting, flooding, and coating characters left and right.
Cinematography Gives the Adaptation a Breath of Fresh Air
Oftentimes in the game, players can switch from third-person to first-person shooter, and Cregger made sure to give the game franchise justice in that respect. We loved how Cregger used them sparingly and intentionally for the scenes with the guns. From the searching for bullets to the aiming and the monsters’ appearance, everything was shot exactly like the games. You know when you get to the cutscenes of a final boss or a sudden appearance of a monster, you can’t skip the scene. That’s exactly what happened to Hodukavich, wherein he’s stuck just watching the monsters do their icky, freaky thing before he actually gets to flee. It helped amp up the anxiety as well, which is definitely a characteristic that the game franchise is known for.
We are Bryan Hodukavich
Still from Sony Pictures
The number of times Hodukavich cursed loudly and under his breath, “Goddamn it!” was every player who ever had a go at Resident Evil. Austin Abrams gave Hodukavich an incredibly endearing and lost puppy energy that every player at some point felt because of all the scares and untimely deaths. He was so smol, having to figure out how to shoot and run from the nightmare he suddenly found himself in. It’s like he was the player as well.
Abrams was the comic relief of the high-tension film. Alongside him was Paul Walter Hauser’s character, an Umbrella Corporation agent. He was quite memorable for the short time he had on screen, and the chemistry he had with Abrams was definitely a marker.
It actually reminded us of how Cregger used humor to also cut through the horror in his Weapons film.
Familiar Nightmares and Soundscapes
Despite what the initial reaction was to the trailer and sneak peek, Cregger’s Resident Evil did not hold back on the scare factor of the creatures involved. They were creepy; they were the cause of jump scares, and most of all, it was body horror galore, and yet you can’t take your eyes off them, much like Hodukavich. Cregger paired them with loud, timed noises that made the combination a lethal one for the faint of heart. It has that scare factor that’s reminiscent of the games, which made us appreciate the film even more.
Open-Ended Ending
Still from Sony Pictures
By the end of the one-hour-and-thirty-five-minute run, the ending opened up possibilities for future adaptations while also tying a pretty bow on this film. Not gonna lie, we thought there was more, but Cregger chose the right time to end the film, with the sequence of events having the right pacing to lead up to such an open-ended finale. All we can say is that Hodukavich deserved better.
As a whole, Cregger did a great job in adapting Resident Evil for a new generation and fans. His proclamation of love and passion for the game franchise was expressed well on screen, making it a fun watch either as just a horror film or an adaptation.
SEA Wave gives Resident Evil a 3.5 out of 5 waves just for the love poured into the film and for paying homage to the popular series.