Zach Cregger, director of the Resident Evil film, revealed how the first-person shots were filmed. To create a visual experience closer to the games, the crew mounted cameras directly onto the firearms and on the head of lead actor Austin Abrams.
Cregger stated that the crew would mount cameras on machine guns and shotguns. When shooting first-person footage, the equipment had to be firmly attached to the firearms to achieve the correct aspect ratio and a stable viewpoint.
The position of the firearm in the frame also required precise control. Cregger noted that if the barrel was raised too high or slightly off-center from the aim, the final result would look unnatural.
In some scenes, a different filming technique was used, with the camera mounted directly on Abrams' head, allowing the lens to move in sync with the character. Wherever the character looks, the audience sees the same perspective, creating the effect of viewing the scene through the character's eyes.
This design is part of Cregger's effort to align the film's visual language with the games. One of his guiding principles for the shoot was to keep the camera anchored to the character's subjective experience. Gunfight scenes particularly emphasized firearm positioning, aiming center, and camera movement to mirror the operational feel of the first-person entries in the Resident Evil series.
The film follows Brian, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who arrives in Raccoon City during a delivery mission, only to become entangled in a deadly outbreak and encounter infected creatures. The movie features an independent story while incorporating series elements such as limited ammunition, puzzles, green herbs, and first-aid sprays.
The Resident Evil film, directed by Zach Cregger, was released in theaters on September 18, 2026.