This year’s opening night film at Fantastic Fest, Resident Evil, was an experience! First of all, my body was pumping with adrenaline because I made it to the screening by the skin of my teeth. The movie started with my hands still shaking. Although my senses were heightened, I had neutral expectations for the film. I am a completist, so I have seen every live-action Resident Evil film (and some of the animated flicks, too). The movies, for ME (I know some of ya’ll hate them!), rank from “a good time” to “I might be in hell”. I knew this new entry could go either way.
However, I had faith in Zach Cregger’s direction and writing. When I saw that Shay Hatter also penned the script, I knew we’d at least get some fun and violence. Resident Evil exceeded my expectations by delivering scares and tension throughout. While I have notes, I would recommend checking this film out in theaters. There are so many things to root for: It’s one of the better entries, it has great special effects, the sound is as crisp as the crease in starched pants, and the lead gives a performance that withstands the tonal shifts. It feels like a side quest in an established universe, and I’m not mad at that.
Humor, Horror, and Heart(s)
In horror films, pacing is very important when trying to deliver scares and shock the audience. During the Q&A after the film, Cregger talked about how his background in comedy required the same mental muscle group as crafting scares. Resident Evil put those sharpened skills on display. I was already on edge when I arrived, but Resident Evil kept me there. I audibly screamed multiple times. The sound effects and music played a significant role in priming the audience for scares. Sounds of heavy hostile footsteps, or the groan of a not-so-distant large creature, forced me to shift in my seat. The sound and music departments worked together to get scenes to a boiling point, then a scare would pitch in and snatch the viewers bald.
I enjoyed the terrifying situations Bryan (Austin Abrams) had to suffer through. Yet, his inaction in some scenes made me shake my fists at the sky. I understand that realistically, people don’t become John Wick in dangerous situations. It makes sense to see a character freeze, or fail miserably on their first attempt at a task. However, watching Bryan sit there in fear as danger was on an active path to his boots got old halfway through the movie. He also wanders into the dark yelling, “hello,” too many times after the consequences prove it to be a dangerous habit. Clearly, Bryan is a character that knowingly jumps into situations unprepared. Unfortunately, the frustration with the character put a little damper on the overall enjoyment.
Although some of Bryan’s actions aggravated me, I still found him endearing. I credit that to Abrams’ performance. He carries most of the films, as he’s often one of the only humans in a scene. Even when I didn’t like where the script was going, Abrams sold the scenario. He effortlessly glided from humorous responses to full-out fear. There was even space for Abrams to showcase his range when Bryan gets a moment to react to his projected fate. It’s cut short with humor, but it added a bit more dimension to the character. I don’t know how I feel about his inner conflict. I feel like a lot of horror movies have been leaning into the fears of parenthood. I’m starting to feel overloaded by this theme.
You Have Now Entered Racoon City
We don’t see many humans walking around once Bryan sets off to Racoon City. Many of the humans we see on screen quickly meet their doom, so they don’t carry much weight. They are often used as fodder to get us to creatures, kills, or more danger. Luckily, the creatures were worth seeing, and apparently they carry grudges. If you came to Resident Evil for a serving of blood, guts, and ass, then you’ll get more than your fill.
The gore and horror are heavily seasoned with humor. There are off-hand comments and situational humor that rarely lets up. I wish there wasn’t as much comedy, although most of it was done well. I don’t think Bryan needed that many verbal responses to the situation at hand, but if we’re considering the video game lens, it makes sense. Characters in video games constantly react to what’s happening around them. However, I don’t know if it worked for me in this format.
While I would have liked fewer comedic comments, I couldn’t get enough of the visuals. The little details like gun smoke in the snow, or the items left in abandoned cars were fun additions. The camera work makes the film feel like a cutscene from a horror game; I loved that aspect. I also liked that Resident Evil opts for a bleaker resolution. The ending leaves me feeling like “Things are awful, and nothing’s going to be okay”; maybe that is a reflection of our current situation. Ultimately, Resident Evil has more pros than cons and is a thrill ride in the theater!
