(Image: Sony Pictures)
The new Resident Evil movie, written and directed by Weapons filmmaker Zach Cregger, opens in Taiwan on September 17. With the social media embargo now lifted, outlets and critics who attended advance press screenings have begun sharing their initial reactions. Judging by the prevailing sentiment so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with almost universal praise for the film.
“Resident Evil is one of those films you have to see on the biggest screen with a big crowd! A true horror blockbuster. Zach Cregger goes bigger, scarier, and is at his most fun. This is how you make horror into a cinematic spectacle.”
“Resident Evil may not feature recognizable characters or storylines, but by tapping into the relentless tension of the games, Zach Cregger has actually delivered the most faithful take yet. Very bloody, very funny, and it made me jump at least three times—no easy task. The fella sitting in front of me hid behind his jacket for most of the movie. Easily among the best video game adaptations I’ve seen.”
“Wow, Resident Evil is masterfully directed, with a perfect lead performance from Austin Abrams. It captures the thrill of playing the games without ever making you wish you were playing one instead. It’s ACTUAL HORROR CINEMA. Funny, tense, scary, and a perfect big-screen crowd thrill ride. Zach Cregger has done it again.”
“Resident Evil is a heart-pounding blast of a time! I loved the tone and pacing Zach Cregger built. Lots of laughs, with several horrifying moments. I’m a big fan of all the creature designs. Austin Abrams, much like this movie, is so engaging. I hope the doubters give it a chance.”
“Well! Resident Evil is a blast and a half. Austin Abrams brings star-grade charisma and perfect comedic delivery. Despite a helping of laughs, the scares and body horror land. It feels like you’re playing a very good video game, and I already want to watch it a second time.”
“I think it’s safe to say that Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is the best video game movie ever made! Consistently exhilarating, hilarious—sometimes to a fault—and tense all at once, this is a tight 90-minute thrill ride that never lets up. As a huge fan, I couldn’t be happier with this.”
“Zach Cregger is cookin’ with napalm. It’s a wild, hilarious, unpredictably bonkers thrill ride from start to finish. Kinetic action leans heavily on demented body horror. Mutant mayhem galore! Austin Abrams is perfect as our doofy, hapless hero.”
“Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is straight-up a pedal-to-the-metal blast of a film—very violent and gory, as well as funny. Austin Abrams was kind of made in a lab to play dumbasses who have no idea what to do in wild and intense situations. A great time at the movies.”
(Image: Sony Pictures)
This version of Resident Evil was co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, who also co-wrote Army of the Dead. The cast includes Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry and boxer Kali Reis, who has increasingly focused on acting in recent years.
At the center of the story is Austin Abrams, known for Weapons and the HBO series Euphoria. He plays a selfish, chronically unlucky medical courier who unexpectedly becomes a hero after a routine delivery plunges him into a T-virus outbreak.