Resident Evil (2026) – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Resident Evil (2026) – Delivery of Survival … Welcome to Raccoon City

The eye of a creative is defined by not an ordinary look but seeing what can be more.  This is a unique take on what may push and pull at one’s thoughts, but it is that angst to break gravity; to spin and take risks with the unknown.  For film, having a creative eye can bring a mark of true inspiration.  No matter how the story is told … if you have that spirit to see beyond, you can provide an experience worth it all.  In this review, I look at the latest adaptation of a famed video game property.  Through a unique take, Resident Evil is a tensed-filled journey that showcases that some jobs are not worth being in the wrong place … at the wrong time.

When a medical courier is tasked to deliver a highly classified package, what seems like a routine job becomes a horror-filled journey that will have you wondering, will he survive?  When it comes to adaptations, there is a tug of war like feeling in ‘capturing the essence’ versus ‘telling a well-developed tale’.  Being creative, you want to build a unique experience while staying true to the property (at hand).  For video games, there is a strong sense of connection for fans … one where if there is an ounce of difference, it becomes less amusing (overall).  With this latest entry from writer/director Zach Creggar, he creates an experience that is truly original to his vision … but captures that feeling of understanding the property.  As we come into this film, we meet Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who is tasked to deliver a highly important package to the hospital in Raccoon City.  Once this plot point is set, we are quickly thrust into a tale of survival … where he encounters various ‘crazed’ individuals and monstrosities.  Through these interactions, it becomes a complexion of horror meets suspense, where we witness the insane scenes through the innocence of Bryan’s own experience.  With no knowledge of what is really going on … it becomes an organic journey that reinvents the ‘fish out of water’ motif through the immersion of horror and the Resident Evil Lore.  As Bryan moves along a linear directive, what drives the journey is no in-depth conversations or dramatic induced scenes, but a methodical build up of raw moments that strike subtle fear through atmospheric tension.  You witness everything through an auspicious sense of infallibility.  Each situation draws you in with earned reactions, where you truly feel for Bryan as he must deal with this unholy circumstance.  It is a nod to the greatness of Creggar’s vision, where he builds a unique path of his own while capturing the spirit of what it truly means to survive the ‘outbreak’ happening in Raccoon City.

Beyond the aspect of tension and horror filled moments, greatness comes in the heightened awareness of raw interactions.  This comes in the form of compliment levity through honest dialogue and comedic happen stance.  The weaving of this unpredictability creates a genuine balance of the genres, where everything is earned, even when the dire nature starts to become a real thing.  Once Bryan reaches his main destination, things start to unravel for his chances of survival.  As things loom with a red herring of circumstance, we head into a third act of heightened stakes and tension.  This builds to an insane like climax and abruptness that have you wondering what comes next.  Resident Evil is an adaptation that represents the IP in its own original take.  If you are fan of the franchise, video game adaptations or horror, this will be one not to miss.  I believe this is worth the full price admission, a can’t miss experience.

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)