‘Resident Evil’ First Reactions: Zach Cregger’s Zombie Horror Is ‘Gloriously Gory’ and One of ‘The Best Video Game Adaptations’ Ever

“Weapons” and “Barbarian” director Zach Cregger is dabbling in studio IP for the first time with Sony’s “Resident Evil,” but it appears joining a franchise has done nothing to weaken the filmmaker’s knack for outrageously wild scares. Members of the film press are calling Cregger’s “Resident Evil” reboot “a cinematic spectacle” and “easily among the best video game adaptations.”

Tomatometer critic EJ Moreno shared an enthusiastic review on X, writing that the film is one that “you have to see on the biggest screen with a big crowd! A true horror blockbuster.” He continued: “Zach Cregger goes bigger, scarier, and at his most fun. This is how you make horror into a cinematic spectacle.”

Fellow Tomatometer critic Mark Cassidy wrote that “Resident Evil” taps “into the relentless tension of the games.” “Zach Cregger has actually delivered the most faithful take yet. Very bloody, very funny, and it made me jump at least 3 times (no easy task). The fella sitting in front of me hid behind his jacket for most of the movie. Easily among the best video game adaptations I’ve seen.”

Film journalist and editor-in-chief of SplashReport.com Kellvin Chavez shared a glowing review for “Resident Evil” as well. “HOLY SHIT!!! #ResidentEvil has its foot on the gas from the opening scene and NEVER hits the brakes,” he wrote on X. “Zach Cregger delivers relentless suspense, gloriously gory action, and some seriously twisted, Thing-esque creature designs. Pure SURVIVAL HORROR and easily the best ‘Resident Evil’ movie yet. Austin Abrams is terrific. I’ll do a full review tomorrow.”

“It’s just as intense and horrifying as you’d expect a ‘Resident Evil’ movie to be while integrating some great humorous moments throughout,” film critic Tristian Circa ‘89 shared on X. “Austin Abrams plays an everyman in way over his head, but his natural charm makes him a lead worth rooting for.”

Variety‘s Jordan Moreau wrote on X that “Zach Cregger is the fucking man and #ResidentEvil is one of the best video game adaptions ever made, and one of the best horror movies in recent memory. Incredible title drop, Austin Abrams is hilarious to watch stumble around killing zombies, 10/10.”

“Resident Evil” reunites Cregger with his “Weapons” star Austin Abrams, who plays a medical courier who must contend with a zombie outbreak while making a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. Cregger wrote the movie’s screenplay with Shay Hatten. The supporting cast includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser.

Notably, Cregger’s new movie does not feature established characters from the “Resident Evil” video game universe such as Leon S. Kennedy or Jill Valentine because Cregger aimed to create a new and original story, which has rubbed a certain section of the fandom the wrong way (Cregger has admitted he was “naive” to think he could create an original story in a pre-existing franchise and get away unscathed from fans).

There have been six previous “Resident Evil” films, beginning with Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez’s 2002 film. Jovovich went on to lead “Resident Evil: Apocalypse” (2004), “Resident Evil: Extinction” (2007), “Resident Evil: Afterlife” (2010), “Resident Evil: Retribution” (2012) and “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (2017). In 2021, filmmaker Johannes Roberts took on the franchise reboot “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” as writer and director. The franchise has collectively grossed over $1.2 billion at the global box office.

“Resident Evil” opens in theaters Sept. 18 from Sony Pictures. Check out first reactions in the posts below.