Media reviews for the new Resident Evil movie have been released, with the film achieving a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes upon its premiere, making it the highest-rated video game adaptation in history.
Media Review Highlights:
"Resident Evil finally captures the suffocating horror of the games" - GameSpot
"Zach Cregger injects a refreshing shot of adrenaline into this weary franchise" - The Hollywood Reporter
"Revitalizing the IP with terrifying, bloody survival horror" - FandomWire
"Resident Evil is not just surprising; it's surprisingly good" - Gizmodo
"Zach Cregger's thrilling video game movie is his best work yet" - TheWrap
IGN Score: 8/10
Resident Evil keeps its focus on placing the protagonist in the most terrifying night of his life, telling a simple yet thrilling survival horror story. Director Zach Cregger's personal style also greatly benefits the film.
Review Summary
Resident Evil consistently focuses on plunging its protagonist into the most terrifying night of his life. With a simple yet thrilling survival horror story and Zach Cregger's distinct directorial style, it delivers quite effectively. Austin Abrams, playing the medical courier Brian, is severely outmatched but highly charismatic. Under Cregger's direction, he is dragged into a hellish world populated by well-realized mutated creatures and monsters. Cregger's control over practical effects, the mounting sense of dread, and his signature humor give this Resident Evil installment the flavor the series deserves.
GameSpot Score: 8/10
Thus, Resident Evil is less of a horror film and more of a nerve-wracking experience. Of course, there are some excellent jump scares and plenty of gore. At the same time, it's also a very funny movie. Director Zach Cregger honed his skills on the sketch comedy show "Whitest Kids U Know" (like Jordan Peele and Cory Barker, he emerged from the sketch comedy world to create top-tier horror films), and he mentioned in interviews that he had to cut out a lot of jokes. Our protagonist uses humor to cope with the nightmarish environment. These jokes are perfectly placed, never undermining the tension and horror. In fact, some of the best laughs come just when we anticipate something serious is about to happen, and when the nightmare truly strikes, I still found myself involuntarily leaning back in my chair.
Fans of Resident Evil will find plenty to enjoy in this film. Although there are no cameo appearances by Raccoon City Police Department officers or S.T.A.R.S. members, the movie is filled with Easter eggs paying homage to the original works. Casual viewers might notice these references, but only hardcore fans will truly appreciate them. Even the monsters seem crafted specifically for Resident Evil enthusiasts.
There aren't actually many zombies in this movie, but they do drive the plot forward. Instead of relying on classic Resident Evil monsters, Craig presents a series of original creatures that feel intricately connected to the T-virus. There are swarms of arms and legs, tentacles with sharp teeth at their ends, and more. Watching this film felt familiar, yet it still surprised me at every turn, with creepy, nauseating monsters lurking around every corner.
Craig cleverly avoids the fatal trap of "This isn't my Leon Kennedy" by not adhering to the video game's story and character settings, allowing us to experience Resident Evil firsthand. The film ditches the slightly exaggerated action movie style of the past, replacing it with a terrified man: he escapes one predicament only to find an even more horrifying disaster awaiting him ahead.
Pros
Tight pacing, like a continuous horror marathon
The monster design is excellent, making you want to shrink back into your seat.
Humor and gory body horror are combined just right
Cons
Some fan-service elements feel too forced, drawing attention to themselves
