Zach Cregger made an impression with both Barbarian and Weapons, but his latest feature length trailer for Resident Evil finds the writer-director dialling things up to eleven. An isolated farmhouse, a mysterious road accident, and a vital medical organ all play a part in propelling this off the blocks as audiences get their first proper taste of this Capcom approved adaptation.
A shotgun on the wall, boxes of bullets in a bureau, and an assailant on foot pounding through snow off camera all add up to something special as this trailer quickly kicks into gear. Unlike the Resident Evil franchise featuring Mila Jovovich, this fresh take is grounded by Weapons collaborator Austin Abrams, who walks a fine line between affable and angst-ridden as his anxiety levels up.
With traces of Evil Dead 2 in Zach Cregger’s interpretation, not to mention a certain Bruce Campbell vibe in the overly optimistic Bryan, this latest trailer lays down solid foundations and promises a fan faithful approach to that Capcom legacy. Turning this slice of footage into pure nightmare fuel as audiences eager to see what this talented writer-director has done are invited to buckle up.
After the disappointing Netflix adaptation featuring Lance Reddick, Capcom’s precious survival horror looked dead and buried (pun intended). With the promise of a grisly and grotesque journey into the belly of Raccoon City, Zach Cregger might just have jumpstarted this aging franchise and delivered something traditional that fans can finally get behind.