Cinema VinesIn a film that turns the familiar Resident Evil franchise on its head, director Zach Cregger blends gore with a surprisingly light‑hearted tone, while Austin Abrams delivers a grounded, everyman performance as the film’s reluctant hero, Bryan. From the opening winter night, the movie follows Bryan—a medical courier who has just finished a shift delivering organs—when he accepts a last‑minute, double‑pay job that takes him deep into a snowy, mountainous region. He drives through a blizzard, loses his cell signal, and struggles to stay in contact with his girlfriend Michelle, who is dealing with her own life‑changing news.
What follows is a series of jump‑scares and tense moments that feel almost like a video game level by level. Bryan’s car is suddenly struck by a body, and he is forced to follow a set of footprints through the snow, eventually discovering a disfigured woman who appears almost normal at first glance. The film keeps the audience guessing as he moves from a terrifying dog, to a barn, and then a farmhouse, each location presenting new threats and challenges that shift every ten minutes or so.
The horror is punctuated by moments of humor, such as Bryan’s comment, “I only use guns in video games,” which breaks tension and offers a brief laugh amid the gore. The film also rewards fans of the games with Easter eggs, while casual viewers find themselves drawn into the story without needing prior knowledge. Abrams’ portrayal of Bryan is scruffy yet charming, and he narrates most of the film because the people around him are no longer human.
One of the more unsettling scenes involves a young girl in an old RV who begs for help, only for Bryan to realize she is infected by the virus that turns townspeople into tentacles. He is forced to shoot her in the face, a grim reminder of the film’s stakes. Despite these dark moments, the movie maintains a sense of humor, with lines like, “This isn’t real. I like kids!” that lighten the mood.
Ultimately, the film follows Bryan as he navigates a world overrun by tentacle‑infested monsters, culminating in a confrontation that reveals what he has been carrying all along. With its blend of gory thrills and laughable moments, Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil offers a fresh take on the franchise, while Austin Abrams’ performance anchors the chaotic adventure in relatable humanity.
