A One Mann’s Movies review of “Resident Evil”. (2026, 4.5*, 15).
I like being scared by a horror movie. But I prefer laughing my head off to gory thrills. There are some “horror” movies that stand out because they are just SO much fun to go and see at the cinema. Cocaine Bear was one that comes to mind. Clown in a Cornfield (doing what it says on the tin) was another for me. Resident Evil joins that club. Under the leadership of man-of-the-moment Zach ‘Weapons‘ Cregger, it delivers a hugely entertaining cocktail of occasional jump scares, creepy moments, and a comedy road-trip that bowls along at a hell of a pace. It gets a high rating, because it is one of the most fun times I’ve had in the cinema this year.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Bryan (Austin Abrams) makes much needed dough by being a courier of medical products. Although overdue to return home to his newly pregnant wife Michelle (Sara Paxton) – who is continually bitching in his ear – he takes one final lucrative job to transport a medical cool-bag to Raccoon City Hospital. It’s a “Schedule A” job… “no stops”. But as Bryan heads out onto the remote snowy road in a storm, surprises await him.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC website: “Strong bloody violence, gore, horror, language.”)
Talent:
Starring: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser, Will Merrick, Andrea Miltner, Karel Dobrý, Zoé Bellas, Johnno Wilson, Isla McRae, Sara Paxton.
Directed by: Zach Cregger.
Written by: Zach Cregger, Shay Hatten.
Running Time: 1h 34m.
Review:
Positives:
- Austin Abrams is perfectly cast as the luckless Bryan, with a comedic energy about him. Right from the off, as he arrives at the hospital and nearly loses it at the mere sight of blood, you realise that this will be the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time! The goofy nature of the comedy horror reminded me of the John Landis classic An American Werewolf in London. A scene with a barn loft and a ladder is typical of the sort of “D’Oh!” moments that keep happening to Bryan. And a familiar movie trope of the hero shooting open a metal padlock is given the ribbing it has richly deserved for so many decades.
- The first jump scare in the film is in the trailer…. but it still managed to get me. It’s such an horrific situation to imagine! When we do get to see the ‘creature’, the design – basically an ever-growing human Catherine Wheel of limbs – is macabre and memorable. An encounter with a young and frightened girl (Isla McRae, in her first credited feature) is particularly ghoulish. Will they go there? Yes they do, and it’s a lot of fun.
- Cregger has not based this film on any of the numerous previous film versions, but instead taken the essence of the game and brought it into the film. Thus, we occasionally drop into a ‘first-party-shooter’ view and sometimes an ‘over-the-shoulder’ view.
- The finale of the film, as Bryan has to literally fight his way up a skyscraper against the “stupid fucking monsters” to the ‘boss level’ is deranged. A lift (elevator) scene is ridiculous but extremely funny. And a visit to the maternity ward is as disturbingly dark as you would expect it to be. But was the film going to wimp out with a cutesy, Pollyanna ending? No, of course not. The film’s denouement is dark, unexpected and totally satisfying.
Negatives:
- Bryan’s dialogue consists mostly of him saying “WTF” to himself and this becomes a bit repetitive and tiresome.
- An encounter in Raccoon City with Carl (Zach Cherry) and Maxine (Kali Reis) didn’t work as well for me as the rest of the film. Given Maxine is “really good at this”, her disappearance seems uncharacteristic and unexplained. (However, this sequence does lead to a rather bizarre “Jabba the Hut” moment in the sewers which is as bizarre as it is gross as it is memorable.)
Triggers.
SPOILER: I can’t believe I’m saying this for the eleventh time this year, but this is yet another entry for my doesthedogdie.com tally for films seen in 2026 (the others being Die My Love, Sirāt, Shelter, Evil Dead Burn, The Last Viking, The Odyssey, The Last House, The Dog Stars, The Idiot(s) and A Long Winter).
Summary Thoughts:
This was one of the top 5 most fun trips to the cinema I’ve had during 2026. A glorious thrill ride of horror-lite and comedy gold. After Weapons and now Resident Evil, Zach Cregger is becoming the golden-child of Indie horror and expectations will be high for what he does next. And – unless a smaller project jumps in the gap – ‘next’ seems to be a deep-space Sci-Fi thriller – The Flood – starring Jennifer Lawrence and not due in cinemas until 2028.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNd1gb19A-c.
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!