The latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise debuts this Friday, offering a streamlined, accessible take on the long-running series. Directed by Zach Cregger, the film marks a reboot of the franchise that originated as a 1996 video game and later expanded into a film series beginning in 2002. Unlike its predecessors, which carried extensive lore that could be challenging for newcomers, this iteration simplifies the storyline, focusing on a suspenseful, straightforward survival narrative.

Austin Abrams stars as Bryan, a medical courier grappling with the sudden news that his girlfriend is pregnant. Just as his shift is ending, Bryan is approached with an urgent request: to deliver a critical package to a hospital in the remote Raccoon City. Choosing to accept the risky job rather than heading home, he embarks on a perilous journey beset by various monstrous creatures, including a particularly aggressive dog. The origin of these threats is linked to the Umbrella Corporation, a powerful pharmaceutical company central to the franchise’s mythology, although this backstory remains secondary to Bryan’s immediate struggle.

At a concise 90 minutes, the film prioritizes pace and tension over detailed character development or intricate plotting. Co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, known for his work on titles like Ballerina and John Wick: Chapter 4, the script distills the narrative to its essentials: a race to survive. The film balances horror elements with moments of dark humor, drawing comparisons to the tone and style of early Sam Raimi works such as Evil Dead. Abrams delivers a performance that captures the vulnerability and defiance of an everyman caught in extraordinary circumstances.

Cregger’s direction builds on his previous projects, including Weapons and Barbarian, to infuse familiar horror tropes with fresh energy. The film features a blend of ghastly visuals and occasional comedic relief, employing effective jump scares and inventive choreography. Despite lacking the complex psychological elements of his earlier films, Resident Evil’s direct approach enables it to appeal to a broad audience, including those typically indifferent to the horror genre.

This release continues a recent trend of horror films gaining significant cultural relevance, following notable titles like The Black Phone from 2022 and other recent entries such as Obsession and Backrooms. With Resident Evil, Cregger revives a widely known but critically uneven franchise, potentially reigniting interest among both fans and newcomers alike. While firmly rooted in horror, the film’s accessibility and wit may broaden its appeal beyond traditional genre audiences.