Review: ‘Resident Evil’ Is a Perfect Video Game Movie for People Who Don’t Play Video Games

September 20, 2026 - 20:19

If you are searching for a deep dive into Zach Cregger's 2026 take on Resident Evil that connects every plot point to the long running game series or the previous live action films, this is not that piece. I have never finished a single level of the PlayStation hit and I skipped all seven earlier movies. This review exists to say none of that matters.

After Barbarian and Weapons, Cregger moved into franchise territory like many indie directors before him. Unlike some of those jumps, this one fits. His earlier films were full of creepy, murderous women, so a zombie outbreak is not a stretch.

The film avoids drowning in easter eggs. Instead it moves like a game, with the hero pushing through one level after another and facing bigger threats each time. Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, is sent on a snowy night to deliver a package to Raccoon City General Hospital. He hits a woman in a sundress, then her dog, then her husband, and quickly learns a disease is spreading and the cure is in his bag. His mission is simple: cross a blocked tunnel, survive the streets, and reach a secret lab on the 28th floor.

At 90 minutes the pacing never drags. It is funny, scary, and gross in the right ways. Abrams carries the whole thing, mostly by whispering to himself. The score keeps the momentum going. It is a standalone win that belongs among the best zombie films and the best game adaptations.

Grade: A