Resident Evil Reboot Offers Fleet, Entertaining Zombie Thrills

Zach Cregger's latest film, Resident Evil, offers a fleet and entertaining take on the enduring video game franchise. While not as intricate as his previous work, Weapons, this new installment successfully captures the spirit of its source material, presenting a rambling, obstacle-filled journey akin to navigating a game.

Austin Abrams stars as Bryan Hodukavich, a medical courier tasked with delivering a crucial parcel to Raccoon City General Hospital. The journey becomes perilous as his vehicle encounters treacherous icy terrain. A pivotal moment occurs when he hits a zombie woman, played by Andrea Miltner, who he then brings into his vehicle, unaware of her true nature. This setup leads to a series of mishaps, including encounters with a state trooper, a menacing dog that is more than it appears, and a deserted farmhouse.

Later, Bryan meets a pair of travelers who identify themselves as representatives of the shadowy Umbrella Corporation. They reveal the significance of the package he's been protecting, which he previously believed was a life-saving organ for a child. Throughout these events, Bryan is also preoccupied with a phone call from his girlfriend about a significant relationship development, all while struggling to get a cell signal and encountering numerous padlocks for which he lacks keys.

The film escalates with an increasing number of zombies, featuring descriptions that include slime, vomit, and pustules. Abrams carries the film effectively, evolving from a detached participant in his own life to a more engaged survivor as the danger intensifies. The nearly 90-minute runtime concludes with a cliffhanger, suggesting a potential sequel, a common practice in the Resident Evil franchise which has seen previous film adaptations.

Cregger's direction, co-written with Shay Hatton, balances elements of horror and dark humor, a trait noted in his earlier film Weapons. This approach distinguishes Resident Evil from many contemporary horror films that Cregger suggests often lack a sense of humor. The film's definitive, albeit mortifying and funny, ending provides a satisfying conclusion, avoiding the ambiguity that plagues other modern horror narratives. The enduring popularity of the zombie genre suggests that Resident Evil, and its undead inhabitants, are likely to remain a fixture in popular culture.