Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie is out later this month (September 18) but some fans have been able to watch the first 30 minutes early – and have praised the “absolutely wild” adaptation.
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Rather than a direct adaptation of any of the beloved Resident Evil games, Zach Cregger’s films tells an original story that runs parallel to the events of Resident Evil 2.
“From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) comes a thrilling – and terrifying – reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise,” reads the official description. “In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.”
When it was released in July, the trailer for Resident Evil sparked a debate amongst gamers about how “faithful” the movie was to source material. “My only hope is that they’ll see the movie regardless of their skepticism or their disappointment that I’m not telling some of the stories that the games tell so well, they will feel seen when they do watch the movie and they will recognize all of the love for the games that are in this movie, because it is there,” Cregger told IGN recently. “This is not me just telling a story and slapping Resident Evil on it so I can get a budget. This is me telling a Resident Evil story. I understand the resistance, I do, because I have it myself. It is coming from a true place of love.”
However, a handful of people have seen the first 30 minutes of Resident Evil and have praised the “absolutely wild” take on the beloved survival horror.
It was truly starting to ramp up when the footage ended, and we hadn’t even gotten to Racoon City yet! Loads of Easter eggs (both visually and audibly) for the fans. I think audiences are going to have a blast with what Cregger is cooking here!
— Nick L’Barrow – Interviews and Reviews (@nicksflicksfix) September 2, 2026
“Zach Cregger really keeps you on your toes with the scares and Austin Abrams’ chaotic and clumsy energy perfectly fits the intense tone. It truly reflects that gaming experience every player has with survival horrors,” wrote one critic. “A hilariously dark vision from Zach Cregger. Austin Abrams is AMAZING as this bumbling protagonist. Features one of the most genius jump scares of the year. Hysterical and so fucking twisted. My audience went ballistic,” said another.
“I was fully prepared to roast Resident Evil but the opening 30 minutes shut me up completely. Zero hand-holding. Filthy, brutal atmosphere. Zach Cregger made a banger,” added a third.
In other news, the creators of metal adventure game Brutal Legend have said they’ll make a sequel – but only if fans raise $100million via crowdfunder.
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