Review: Resident Evil (2026) — A Surprising Reboot, Saved by Zach Cregger's Vision

I finally got to see the new Resident Evil in theaters. I consider myself a bit of a fan of the horror genre, and since Resident Evil is such a big name in pop culture, I knew I couldn’t miss it.

I know there’s a whole history behind it, with lots of games and movies, but my relationship with the franchise is pretty detached. The games never appealed to me (ironically, even though I enjoy watching horror movies and TV shows, when it comes to gaming, it’s the exact opposite), and I saw Paul W.S. Anderson’s “old” movies, starring Milla Jovovich, a long time ago. I never thought they were the kind of movies worth rewatching. I know I’ve seen them, I know what they’re about, and that’s about it.

Because of this—and also because, over the past 10 to 15 years, the industry seems to have forgotten how to make a genuine horror film (with most relying more on the grotesque and gratuitous gore than on genuine terror)—I went into the theater with fairly low expectations. That’s actually how I’ve been approaching just about every new horror movie lately.

The Atmosphere and the “Zach Cregger Factor”

I was lucky enough, though, to catch a completely empty movie theater. Bonus points right off the bat for the oppressive tension—absolutely essential for a film of this genre.

What did give me a glimmer of hope before the screening, though, was the director’s name: Zach Cregger. I’d seen his film *Weapons*—also a horror movie—which, I’ll admit, really drew me in and struck me as very different from the rest of the films out there. So, even though my overall expectations were low, I hoped he’d manage to pull off something good with this project as well. And yes, he did.

The movie starts off at a very decent pace. It doesn't bore you with endless explanations about what's happening or the history of Raccoon City, nor does it waste time setting the stage in advance.

We get to know Bryan (played very well by Austin Abrams) right away—a guy who works as an organ delivery driver for hospitals. Bryan is the kind of character who doesn’t really excel at anything and doesn’t seem to have any great ambitions in life. Throughout the movie, I can’t say he goes through a classic hero’s journey—a detail that actually struck me as fitting here: although he’s the protagonist of our movie, he isn’t the “main character” of the entire Resident Evil universe.

The action itself begins when Bryan is asked to deliver a medical package to Raccoon City General Hospital. It’s not necessarily a long drive, but it becomes extremely difficult because of the blizzard outside and his car, which is completely unprepared for such conditions. Shortly thereafter, we get our first taste of the true nature of Resident Evil. Without giving away any spoilers, I really liked how it all starts: although it begins a bit clichéd, the movie quickly recovers and offers enough elements to rise above the ordinary.

The balance between suspense, humor, and gore

Does it have jump scares? Yes, because at the end of the day, we’re talking about a horror movie, and that’s what you go to the theater expecting, so in that regard, it delivered exactly what it was supposed to. There were plenty of moments when I really jumped in my seat (in an empty theater, let’s not forget!).

The secret behind why the scares worked so well was actually the main character’s simplicity. Bryan’s clumsiness leads to all sorts of funny situations that make you let your guard down and relax—only for something to happen in the very next scene that makes you jump out of your seat. This blend of comedy and horror works brilliantly and elevates the film exactly where most others fall short. This is where I think Zach Cregger’s signature style shines through the most—that special “something” I also found in *Weapons*.

Another big plus is how the action is paced. Although the movie is only an hour and a half long, it’s so well-balanced that it felt like it lasted at least two hours (in a good way). There were moments when I actually hoped it wouldn’t end just yet, because I wanted to see more. Obviously, there’s no shortage of gory or visceral scenes, but unlike other recent films, it doesn’t go overboard here, making it much easier to stomach.

As for the ending, even if you don’t see it coming from the very beginning, it becomes pretty obvious as the movie goes on. The film doesn’t really try very hard to hide it either, but the way it wraps up struck me as perfect for this franchise. I get the feeling that I’ve just witnessed a full-fledged reboot and that this is only the first chapter in a new series. It remains to be seen if I’m right.

Conclusion

Overall, Resident Evil (2026) is an okay-to-good movie, but definitely far superior to most recent horror films. The visuals look great, Austin Abrams delivers a convincing performance, the atmosphere is just right, the jump scares are well-placed, and there are no repetitive or boring moments. Sure, if I wanted to, I could nitpick (a couple of scenes immediately come to mind where I found myself thinking in the theater, “What was the point of that?”), but considering the expectations I had when I left home, there’s no point in being picky.

Is it worth seeing in theaters? I wouldn’t classify it as “definitely a must-see,” but if you have the chance to go to a late showing and catch an empty or nearly empty theater, the experience is well worth it. Otherwise, I think it’ll be just as enjoyable at home, on an OLED TV with a Dolby Atmos soundbar, as soon as it’s available in digital format.