Last year, director Zach Cregger released the alternately chilling and uncanny Weapons, a genre-defying film that earned Amy Madigan an Oscar. He follows that effort by trying to revive a horror property that never really had a signature film: Resident Evil, the video game adaptation about an evil corporation unleashing a zombie plague on humanity. Without a marquee director, another Resident Evil reboot barely would’ve been a headline; now, it counts as one of the most anticipated horror films of the year.
You Don’t Have to Be a Video Game Fan to Appreciate the New Resident Evil Movie
Cregger’s first, and best, decision: This is its own movie, with no important narrative ties to the previous films or the games. The Resident Evil video game series comprises nearly 30 standalone chapters, accompanied by seven theatrical films and a library of printed media; while there are undoubtedly references and nods to some of that lore in Cregger’s film, no advance knowledge is required.
Isn’t that refreshing? A franchise movie that doesn’t make you do any homework — a rarity in 2026.
Mutated zombies aside, the premise actually could be described as simple: We follow an anonymous, hard-luck twentysomething on a very bad day. Our reluctant hero, Bryan (Austin Abrams), is a medical courier (a “glorified Postmates driver,” as he puts it) who’s trying to get home to his girlfriend; they’re in the midst of a spat, and he’d like to put things right. Alas, duty calls: The hospital desperately needs him to deliver an important parcel to far-off Raccoon City, on the other side of some icy mountain roads.
When an odd woman bursts out of the forest and into the path of his car, Bryan’s night takes a turn. The rest of Resident Evil is a nearly moment-by-moment account of what anyone might do if faced with an escalating set of absurd circumstances; dramatically, it’s clean and satisfying. Viscerally, it’s gory and shocking. That’s a powerful combination.
A Strong Script and Clever Direction From Zach Cregger Make Resident Evil a Winner
Structurally, it’ll feel like a video game; Bryan moves from location to location, improving his skills and equipment, trying to get a grasp on the situation around him. Unlike films that more directly play with gaming tropes (there’s a new Jumanji out this Christmas), though, it doesn’t feel hokey — it feels exploratory and even immersive.
Credit a script, also by Cregger (with help from Shay Hatten), that strips the action down to its essentials and chucks everything that doesn’t help the mood. Cregger says he cut a number of jokes out of the movie, fearing that the film was getting too funny, but there’s still plenty of macabre humor to be found in the finished product. He manages to maintain a perfectly balanced tone in the face of gore and chaos.
He’s also, quite simply, a very skilled director; he knows how to visually dance with the audience, keeping the viewer rapt through composition and rhythm. Sure, there are undead monsters everywhere, but you’re hooked on the storytelling more than the violence — a rarity. Cregger hasn’t just revitalized this franchise; he’s redefined it.
For the Lighter Kind of Spooky, There’s Shaun the Sheep — Plus More Movies in Theaters
For a decidedly all-ages — but no less artful — spooky adventure, consider Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. No, really, consider it. This is a painstaking work of stop-motion animation that derives belly laughs from tiny movements and careful composition, and it does so with no spoken dialogue. This isn’t merely something for the kids; it’s a remarkable achievement and a study in comedy. The seasonally appropriate plot involves Shaun turning mad scientist and inventing a formula to help pumpkins grow overnight … only for the hapless farmer to use that formula as hair cream, covering himself in fur and convincing the town he’s Bigfoot. It’s funny and charming; blessedly, it’s also only 80 minutes long. There may be no better choice for families looking for a Halloween compromise — and it’ll brighten your day regardless of age.
Those who grumble that they don’t make ’em like they used to might want to watch The Weight, a new western drama in select theaters this weekend. Russell Crowe and Ethan Hawke star in this tale of desperate choices, directed by Padraic McKinley in his feature debut. The film ticks several boxes of cinematic rarity: It’s unabashedly for adults, it’s an original story and it’s in a genre that’s fallen out of favor. What’s more, early reviews are glowing; writing for rogerebert.com, Brian Tallerico says “the last ten minutes of The Weight are as satisfying as anything you’re likely to see this year.”
Don’t Miss These Already Released Movies Too
Last week’s top new release, Practical Magic 2, didn’t exactly wow us … but it still managed to win the weekend. That ended a two-month stranglehold on the box office; it was the first weekend in the last nine not won by either The Odyssey or Spider-Man: Brand New Day. (What a summer for Tom Holland, Zendaya and — to a slightly lesser extent — Jon Bernthal.) Read our review of Practical Magic 2 if you’re determined to try the film anyway; the actors are likable, at least! And yes, there’s still time to see both Spider-Man and Odysseus (Spidysseus, for short); cinemas will be sure to get every dollar out of this year’s champions.
Start streaming this summer’s past releases with Sean’s line-up of the summer blockbuster season. Or, discover more of the arts, culture, and entertainment scene in Pittsburgh.
About the Author
Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.
Photos Courtesy of Dušan Martinček / Sony
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