Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Movie Early Reviews Get Early Praise

TLDR: Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil gets early praise for its fresh take on the legendary Resident Evil franchise.

Director Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie arrives Sept 18, and early reactions to the first 30 minutes are surprisingly positive. Fans who’ve seen the footage are calling the adaptation “absolutely wild.”

Also, if you want to check out more video game movie adaptations coming to TGV Cinemas, check out their coming soon list here!

A Completely Original Story From The Games

Rather than directly adapting the games, Cregger’s film tells an original story running parallel to Resident Evil 2. The movie follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier caught in a chaotic, horrifying night of survival.

“It is coming from a true place of love,” Cregger told IGN, responding to fans disappointed he isn’t retelling familiar game stories. “This is not me just telling a story and slapping Resident Evil on it so I can get a budget. This is me telling a Resident Evil story.” he added.

Critics Are Impressed at The Opening Footage

Critics who’ve seen the opening footage are impressed. One called it “hilariously dark” with “one of the most genius jump scares of the year.”

Another praised the “filthy, brutal atmosphere,” admitting they were “fully prepared to roast Resident Evil but the opening 30 minutes shut me up completely.”

Reviewers particularly highlighted Austin Abrams’ “chaotic and clumsy energy” and noted the film is packed with Easter eggs for longtime fans. One critic said audiences hadn’t even reached Racoon City before the footage ended.