{"id":849443,"date":"2026-09-16T05:54:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T05:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/849443\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T05:54:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T05:54:10","slug":"resident-evil-first-reactions-praise-zach-creggers-scary-reboot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/849443\/","title":{"rendered":"Resident Evil First Reactions Praise Zach Cregger’s Scary Reboot"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\u201cWeapons\u201d and \u201cBarbarian\u201d director Zach Cregger<\/a> is dabbling in studio IP for the first time with Sony\u2019s \u201cResident Evil<\/a>,\u201d but it appears joining a franchise has done nothing to weaken the filmmaker\u2019s knack for outrageously wild scares. Members of the film press are calling Cregger\u2019s \u201cResident Evil\u201d reboot \u201ca cinematic spectacle\u201d and \u201ceasily among the best video game adaptations.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tTomatometer critic EJ Moreno shared an enthusiastic review on X<\/a>, writing that the film is one that \u201cyou have to see on the biggest screen with a big crowd! A true horror blockbuster.\u201d He continued: \u201cZach Cregger goes bigger, scarier, and at his most fun. This is how you make horror into a cinematic spectacle.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tFellow Tomatometer critic Mark Cassidy wrote<\/a> that \u201cResident Evil\u201d taps \u201cinto the relentless tension of the games.\u201d \u201cZach Cregger has actually delivered the most faithful take yet. Very bloody, very funny, and it made me jump at least 3 times (no easy task). The fella sitting in front of me hid behind his jacket for most of the movie. Easily among the best video game adaptations I\u2019ve seen.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tFilm journalist and editor-in-chief of SplashReport.com Kellvin Chavez shared a glowing review for \u201cResident Evil\u201d as well. \u201cHOLY SHIT!!! #ResidentEvil<\/a> has its foot on the gas from the opening scene and NEVER hits the brakes,\u201d he wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cZach Cregger delivers relentless suspense, gloriously gory action, and some seriously twisted, Thing-esque creature designs. Pure SURVIVAL HORROR and easily the best \u2018Resident Evil\u2019 movie yet. Austin Abrams<\/a> is terrific. I\u2019ll do a full review tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s just as intense and horrifying as you\u2019d expect a \u2018Resident Evil\u2019 movie to be while integrating some great humorous moments throughout,\u201d film critic Tristian Circa \u201889 shared on X<\/a>. \u201cAustin Abrams plays an everyman in way over his head, but his natural charm makes him a lead worth rooting for.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tVariety\u2018s Jordan Moreau wrote on X<\/a> that \u201cZach Cregger is the fucking man and #ResidentEvil<\/a> is one of the best video game adaptions ever made, and one of the best horror movies in recent memory. Incredible title drop, Austin Abrams is hilarious to watch stumble around killing zombies, 10\/10.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cResident Evil\u201d reunites Cregger with his \u201cWeapons\u201d star Austin Abrams, who plays a medical courier who must contend with a zombie outbreak while making a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. Cregger wrote the movie\u2019s screenplay with Shay Hatten. The supporting cast includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser.<\/p>\n

\n\tNotably, Cregger\u2019s new movie does not feature established characters from the \u201cResident Evil\u201d video game universe such as Leon S. Kennedy or Jill Valentine because Cregger aimed to create<\/a> a new and original story, which has rubbed a certain section of the fandom the wrong way (Cregger has admitted he was \u201cnaive\u201d <\/a>to think he could create an original story in a pre-existing franchise and get away unscathed from fans).<\/p>\n

\n\tThere have been six previous \u201cResident Evil\u201d films, beginning with Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez\u2019s 2002 film. Jovovich went on to lead \u201cResident Evil: Apocalypse\u201d (2004), \u201cResident Evil: Extinction\u201d (2007), \u201cResident Evil: Afterlife\u201d (2010), \u201cResident Evil: Retribution\u201d (2012) and \u201cResident Evil: The Final Chapter\u201d (2017). In 2021, filmmaker Johannes Roberts took on the franchise reboot \u201cResident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City\u201d as writer and director. The franchise has collectively grossed over $1.2 billion at the global box office.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cResident Evil\u201d opens in theaters Sept. 18 from Sony Pictures. Check out first reactions in the posts below.<\/p>\n

#ResidentEvil<\/a> may not feature recognizable characters\/storylines, but by tapping into the relentless tension of the games, Zach Cregger has actually delivered the most faithful take yet. Very bloody, very funny, and it made me jump at least 3 times (no easy task). The fella\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/QjgumVECDH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Cassidy (@RorMachine) September 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

HOLY SHIT!!! #ResidentEvil<\/a> has its foot on the gas from the opening scene and NEVER hits the brakes. Zach Cregger delivers relentless suspense, gloriously gory action, and some seriously twisted, Thing-esque creature designs.<\/p>\n

Pure SURVIVAL HORROR and easily the best Resident\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/LR6f828fMf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kellvin_Chavez (@Kellvin_Chavez) September 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

#ResidentEvil<\/a>. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s just as intense and horrifying as you\u2019d expect a Resident Evil movie to be while integrating some great humorous moments throughout. Austin Abrams plays an everyman in way over his head, but his natural charm makes him a lead worth rooting for. pic.twitter.com\/4Pm4R9gHdE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tristian Circa \u201889 (@TristianCirca89) September 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Zach Cregger is the fucking man and #ResidentEvil\u3164<\/a> is one of the best video game adaptions ever made, and one of the best horror movies in recent memory. Incredible title drop, Austin Abrams is hilarious to watch stumble around killing zombies, 10\/10 pic.twitter.com\/A2QBPsMN31<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jordan Moreau (@jordanmoreau_) September 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n