The first wave of media reactions to the new live-action Resident Evil film has been released. Many critics have praised the film's horror atmosphere, sustained tension, and video game adaptation quality, with some ranking it among the better video game adaptations in recent years.
Directed by Zach Cregger, known for Barbarian and The Tool, this marks his first involvement in a major studio franchise. Early reviews generally note that the film retains the director's signature jump scares and impactful scenes while expanding the scale of production.
Critic EJ Moreno calls the film a true horror blockbuster, suggesting it is best experienced on the big screen with an audience. Mark Cassidy states that the movie successfully captures the game's relentless tension, describing it as the most faithful adaptation of the series' atmosphere to date.
Kelvin Chavez, editor-in-chief of SplashReport.com, says the film hits the ground running from the opening scene, featuring constant suspense, gory action, and intricately designed monsters. He describes the film as pure survival horror. Jordan Morrow also gives a positive review, praising Austin Abrams for the comedic effect he brings when facing zombies.
Abrams plays a medical courier in the film. While delivering supplies to Raccoon City General Hospital, he encounters an outbreak and zombie attacks. The screenplay was co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, with Zach Cherry, Carly Rees, and Paul Walter Hauser also starring.
This adaptation does not feature game characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Jill Valentine, instead telling an independent new story. Cregger admits that he initially underestimated the potential backlash from fans over introducing new characters and narratives into a long-standing franchise.
The original live-action Resident Evil film series launched in 2002, with six films starring Milla Jovovich running through 2017; a reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, was released in 2021. This new film is scheduled for theatrical release by Sony Pictures starting September 18.