What. A. Film. With Resident Evil, Zach Cregger completes a remarkable hat-trick of horror films, delivering what I believe to be his most accomplished work to date.
After just ten minutes, I was already watching this film with my palms covering my face, peeking through the gaps in my fingers, with one question ringing through my mind: Why did I decide to come and watch this film at 9:30pm by myself!? Yet when the credits began to roll, I was delighted I had overcome my fear and completed the journey Cregger had taken me on.
There was one emotion that, even as I walked back to my car, I still could not shake – anxiety. If I had to use one word to describe this film it would be exactly that. Anxiety.
Knowing absolutely nothing about the Resident Evil universe, I had no idea what to expect. However, the film’s simple, easy-to-follow premise quickly establishes Cregger’s Resident Evil world, making the threat and the obstacles our protagonist must overcome clear without need for excessive exposition.
And on the protagonist, Austin Abrams, playing Bryan, is magnificent. His quirky, awkward mannerisms make him feel authentic and believable. Couple this with brilliant, naturalistic dialogue, and exceptional cinematography, and you find yourself, not only caring about Bryan, but experiencing the film as though you were him. I even found myself whispering reactions to the strange, grotesque and terrifying encounters Bryan was experiencing, almost as though I were alongside him.
Frequent Ridley Scott collaborator Dariusz Wolski serves as the film’s Director of Photography, and my word, the visual creativity used to immerse the audience in this experience is exceptional. Through innovative camera techniques, including moments that adopt the perspective of a first-person shooter, the cinematography places us directly in Bryan’s shoes, transforming us from passive observers into active participants in his terrifying journey.
The anticipation Cregger builds leading up to jumpscares plays a major role in the film’s constant underlying sense of dread. Because we are so immersed in Bryan’s experience, the scares feel earned rather than cheap, becoming the culmination of the anxiety that has been steadily building within us.
And just when you think that this relentless anxiety is too much for you to handle, Cregger’s use of unexpected humour and genuinely funny moments provides that much-needed relief. This clever balance between horror and comedy allows the audience to recover before being thrust straight back into absolute terror.
Without venturing into spoiler territory, the ending deserves particular praise. Cregger makes a bold creative decision that definitely caught me off guard anyway. This decision made an already memorable cinematic experience all the more impactful.
Ultimately, Resident Evil is an exhilarating experience that masterfully blends suspense, horror, gore and humour. Through its inventive cinematography, naturalistic writing and compelling central performance, Cregger creates a world that doesn’t simply invite you to observe its horrors, but makes you feel as though you are experiencing them yourself. Once again, what a film!
Resident Evil