Fans of horror movies have understandably been a bit divided over the years when it comes to the Resident Evil franchise. The film series, which began in 2002, certainly has its supporters. However, the ridiculous plots, campy acting, and action-over-story formula did not appeal to everyone. It’s hard to deny that those movies are good fun, but fans of horror movies and the Resident Evil video game series have plenty of reasons to want something more. That’s where director Zach Cregger comes in. Fresh off the success of 2025’s Weapons, Cregger has decided to put a fresh spin on an iconic franchise with a brand-new Resident Evil. Gone is the convoluted lore that barely made sense, the bloated cast, and the contrived action sequences. This film is a return to the series’ roots, focusing on scares and atmosphere. It’s bold, but it works. This is not just the best Resident Evil movie; it’s one of the best video game adaptations I’ve seen.

This version tells the story of Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier tasked with bringing a package to a hospital in Raccoon City. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of this series can likely guess that things do not go as planned. Unbeknownst to Bryan, an outbreak of mutated monsters and zombies has already overrun Raccoon City, and he is heading for a living nightmare. Alone and isolated in the snowy mountains outside of the city, he has to find a way to survive long enough to deliver his package and, hopefully, get out in one piece.

The way the story is structured, Bryan spends the vast majority of the movie by himself, fending off attacks from horrifying creatures. As such, it falls to Abrams’ acting and Cregger’s direction to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Both deliver in spades. Abrams is pitch-perfect in his role, showcasing a genuinely impressive emotional range, physical acting chops, and unbelievable comedic timing. This movie jumps quickly between horror, humor, and drama, and Abrams manages those jumps flawlessly. It’s a fantastic performance for any film, let alone Resident Evil.

Behind the camera, Cregger delivers what I would argue is his best work yet. Every moment, every shot feels intentional and is almost always the right choice. Too often with video game movies, directors will either ignore the source material or lean way too hard into the gaming aspects until the whole movie looks silly. Cregger opts to find the middle ground, using tight shots and clever camera angles to mimic the feeling of playing a game without making the whole thing seem corny. Fans of gaming are going to find plenty to like about how this film is presented, while non-gamers won’t be dragged out of the movie by unrealistic effects or camera work.

I should also mention just how gorgeous the entire movie is. Each set piece, from the mountains to the city itself, is brilliantly realized and absolutely oozing with atmosphere. Bryan is under nearly constant attack from monsters, I can’t stress enough how much it is non-stop, and even in the moments he gets to rest the world around him comes off as incredibly dangerous. There is so little of this movie where anything feels safe, thanks in part to the eerie and unnerving atmosphere. The low visibility and wild terrain of the snowy mountains could be hiding anything, anywhere. Meanwhile, the tight camera angles in the bloody and burning streets of Raccoon City give the environment a sense of claustrophobia and desperation.

Sadly, I cannot say that the film is without a few flaws. It has a real over-reliance on jump scares early in the movie, which it thankfully abandons as things move along. There’s nothing wrong with a cheap scare here and there, but when you’ve got a movie this creepy and atmospheric it’s just a shame to use the equivalent of someone jumping out and yelling “Boo!” so often. I also think that the CGI, which is usually really great, is a little uneven. There are some moments where it was noticeably weak, especially toward the end of the film. Speaking of the ending, it seems like over-the-top, tonally jarring endings are just Zach Cregger’s style. I thought the last twenty minutes or so of Weapons was a bit goofy, and I can say very much the same thing here. I love the idea behind the final few scenes, I think it caps off the story neatly. The execution is just a little...silly.

That said, there’s not a single problem with Resident Evil big enough to stop me from recommending it. Abrams and Cregger are both at the top of their games with this one and the movie is a complete joy to watch as a result. If you can see it in theaters, I truly think you’ll appreciate the scenery and atmosphere on the big screen. This is how you make a horror video game adaptation. I really hope Resident Evil’s style is infectious.