Zach Cregger directs new Resident Evil reboot starring Austin Abrams

Director Zach Cregger, known for the horror films Barbarian and Weapons, has taken on a new Resident Evil reboot. The film departs from characters previously seen in the video games and earlier movies, opting for an original storyline centered on Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams.

Bryan accepts a last-minute delivery on a snowy night, transporting a mysterious package to a hospital in Raccoon City. After a collision with a woman on a remote road, he becomes entangled in a series of encounters with infected individuals and monsters, including a farmhouse guard dog and a tentacled creature. The narrative follows his attempts to reach the city while confronting an infection that turns residents into zombie-like beings.

Supporting characters include Carl, portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser, an Umbrella Academy scientist, and Maxine, played by Kali Reis, who provides background on the outbreak and the antidote Bryan is carrying. The film features a sequence of action set pieces, such as a chase through exploding bodies and a climax set in a hospital maternity ward.

At a runtime of about 90 minutes, the movie blends horror and dark humor, employing first-person perspective shots that echo video-game gameplay. Critics have noted the film’s brisk pacing and inventive set pieces as strengths of Cregger’s direction.