Resident Evil Review: A Fun Trip Through Raccoon City
Welcome to Raccoon City!
Imagine a world where zombies aren’t just a bad hangover from last night’s party, but the main event of your Saturday night flick! Zach Cregger, who’s had us laughing and jumping in our seats with his wild filmmaking, delivers a new installment to the Resident Evil saga, and boy, it’s a riot! After becoming a favorite at horror fests with Barbarian and snagging nods from the Oscar crowd with his politically charged flick Weapons, Cregger’s jumping back into the splashy world of zombies, and he’s got some surprises up his sleeve.
What’s Cooking in Raccoon City?
Now, if you’ve ever played a Resident Evil game (or even just caught a glimpse of one), you know the drill: doom and gloom rule the roost. Here we meet poor Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, who, spoiler alert, *really* didn’t read the manual for surviving a zombie outbreak. On a snowy night, he stops to help a mysterious stranger and let’s just say… yikes! We, the audience, are yelling at the screen, “Don’t do it!” As Bryan jumps into his well-deserved chaos, we can’t help but laugh at his rookie mistakes.
The Blunders of Bryan
Bryan’s inner turmoil is palpable. He’s just wrapped up a shift at the hospital in tiny town Colorado and has a small detail to deliver to Raccoon City General. Double pay? Sure, but he’d much rather be at home tackling the whole ‘I might-be-a-dad’ situation. Guess what happens when he decides to play ‘Hero’? He’s about to learn the hard way that sometimes, trusting your gut might just mean running for your life!
Jump Scares and Giggles
Cregger has the perfect sneaky blend of humor and horror. As the film progresses, it nails the eerie atmosphere of the games without needing to cast iconic characters from the source material. We enjoy a unique vibe that keeps us on the edge of our seats, jumping at every bark of a distant dog and counting how many bullets Bryan has left. Let’s just say, four won’t cut it in a zombie apocalypse!
From Game to Screen
Despite not featuring any beloved game characters, the movie excels at capturing the chilling essence of the franchise. The storytelling borrows styles reminiscent of old-school B-movie thrills, which is a refreshing take—think less ‘serious zombie politics’ and more ‘let’s just have fun blasting the undead.’ Cregger brings forth layers of unsettling feelings that can only arise when a character realizes the *real* horror of the situation.
The Good, the Bad, and the Zombie-filled
However, just like a horrific jump scare that leaves you gasping, there are moments of tonal clash when the film strays into deep waters about parenting and self-discovery. Those hits can be a bit awkward when you’re still trying to process gory zombie encounters.
While the action plays beautifully, it’s clear that some themes land flatter than a zombie chasing after its next meal.
The Best Resident Evil Yet?
Despite its hiccups, it’s safe to say that this may be the best Resident Evil flick to date! From heart-stopping chases down nightmarish streets to laughter-inducing dialogue, Cregger has crafted a film that sticks with you. It’s like that arcade game you love – you know it’s just a fun ride but can’t wait to blurt out all the wild moments when it’s done!
Final Thoughts
In the end, if you’re itching for thrills, laughs, and some light-hearted zombie gore, Resident Evil is definitely worth a shot—preferably with some popcorn in hand. So gear up for a gory adventure as the movie hits theaters on Sept. 18. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it!