Overview
- Following Sept. 15–16 premiere screenings, reviewers broadly praised Zach Cregger’s R‑rated reboot as one of the most faithful films to the feel of the Resident Evil games.
- Austin Abrams received repeated praise for his lead turn as Bryan, a medical courier thrust into the Raccoon City outbreak, with critics saying the movie keeps a player’s viewpoint front and center.
- Coverage highlights heavy use of practical effects and IMAX‑aware cinematography to create tactile, body‑horror set pieces that reviewers said elevate the film’s tension and visual impact.
- Several critics warned the second half and finale may split audiences because it grows sillier and more effects‑driven, even as most called the overall experience relentless and entertaining.
- The film’s success matters to the franchise: Sony/Columbia’s theatrical and IMAX opening on Sept. 18 will likely determine whether Cregger’s original‑story approach continues in sequels given the IP’s mixed live‑action history.