#After seeing Weapons, I am each cold and warm on the thought of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil film – Destructoid

For those who haven’t had an opportunity to see the brand new horror movie Weapons but, I extremely recommend it.

The follow-up to 2022’s Barbarian from author and director Zach Cregger, Weapons thrives as a chunk of authentic storytelling in a world the place variations and sequels are in every single place. And so, inevitably, with some success, he has discovered himself on that path.

Earlier this 12 months, it was introduced that Cregger will likely be writing and directing a Resident Evil film reboot for Sony Photos, which might come out as early as subsequent 12 months. In an interview with Inverse final week, Cregger revealed that his film will likely be “a unique story” from the video games, avoiding iconic characters like Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and different legends of gaming.

And so, I’m left not understanding how one can really feel about this undertaking’s promise.

“Let me say this: this isn’t breaking the foundations of the video games,” Cregger mentioned of his reboot. “I’m the largest worshiper of the video games, so I’m telling a narrative that may be a love letter to the video games and follows the foundations of the video games.”

That’s good to know, a minimum of. As a fan, he ought to have some expectation of what avid gamers wish to see, and along with his acumen of atmospheric creepiness, it looks as if he’s match for Resident Evil. However can the flicks flourish with out its icons? Resident Evil 7 largely did so with out a lot assist from its legacy forged, telling a brand new and authentic story in a unique setting, so it’s attainable.

I’ve little doubt left in Cregger’s means as a horror filmmaker. He’s two for 2 up to now in terms of telling attention-grabbing, authentic, and creepy tales. I loved Barbarian, however Weapons was a giant step up in some methods. Can he proceed that trajectory? It’s powerful to say, particularly since he will likely be pulling from supply materials and never a spot the place we all know works to a point: his personal thoughts.

With each Barbarian and Weapons, a number of the attraction relied on the thriller and suspense earlier than exploding into terror and gore. With Resident Evil, there’s little thriller left, so I’m questioning how this may increasingly find yourself.

Resident Evil motion pictures have a fairly murky previous. Sony launched six motion pictures over the course of 15 years with an authentic character named Alice (Milla Jovovich) with some variations of sure sport characters showing all through. The films have been largely industrial successes, and have been typically okay in their very own proper, but it surely left followers of the sport wanting extra.

After which there was 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon Metropolis, which by all accounts was an abomination from all angles. I haven’t even seen it but, and I could should ultimately, however I feel I’ve been avoiding it as a fan of the video games.

Resident Evil is in my “massive three” of franchises that I grew up with and haven’t stopped loving, together with Steel Gear Strong and Last Fantasy (I used to be clearly a PS1 child), so this film means lots to me. I feel that Cregger can nail it, however I’ve my reservations.

Cregger mentioned his film will likely be “obedient to the lore of the video games,” and so my pleasure now comes from his means to inform an authentic story. He’s confined to that lore, however what and whose story might he inform inside it?

What if he informed an remoted story a couple of random civilian’s expertise within the Raccoon Metropolis outbreak? No sequels, no massive funds motion, simply pure terror. That is one thing I’d like to see, personally. However I’ve a sense he’ll give you one thing distinctive sufficient to face out, whereas additionally remaining “obedient” to the supply, like he mentioned.

A part of me needs Cregger might carry on telling his personal authentic tales, however one other a part of me is worked up on the prospects of what his tackle Resident Evil might appear to be. And so now, we wait.

Tell us within the feedback how you’re feeling about Cregger, Weapons, Barbarian, Resident Evil, or anything in your thoughts.