Zach Cregger’s new film adaptation of the Resident Evil franchise brings a fresh take to the long-running horror series based on the Capcom video games. Opening in cinemas now, the movie marks the eighth installment in the series and shifts away from familiar characters and plotlines, introducing an original protagonist caught in the midst of a viral outbreak.

The story centers on Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, an unassuming courier for Lightfoot Medical Transportation who is tasked with delivering transplant organs across a snowbound region to Raccoon City General Hospital. During a perilous journey amid a blizzard, Bryan accidentally collides with a woman, portrayed by Andrea Miltnerova, who he hastily helps into his vehicle with the promise of getting her urgent medical care. As he weaves through the treacherous weather, he soon uncovers that a deadly contagion has ravaged Raccoon City and its surrounding snowy outskirts, transforming residents into grotesque, lethal mutations.

Central to the plot is Bryan’s unexpected role, as he becomes the key to potentially halting the outbreak. The enigmatic Umbrella Corporation, responsible for engineering the virus, eagerly anticipates his arrival, sending scientist Carl, played by Paul Walter Hauser, and armed enforcer Pauline, portrayed by Kali Reis, to retrieve him. The narrative emphasizes tension and suspense, using atmospheric elements such as dimly lit environments and immersive sound design to heighten the sense of isolation and danger.

Critics have noted that the film honors the mechanics of the original video games, particularly through Bryan’s progression in weaponry as he faces increasingly complex threats. However, the script deliberately distances itself from established Resident Evil mythology, such as the traditional focus on the T-virus or familiar protagonists. Instead, it delivers a standalone experience driven by a new character’s perspective.

The film’s pacing includes well-executed jump scares and sequences of sustained tension, accompanied by moments of dark humor supplied by Abrams’s portrayal of Bryan, whose nervous quips provide brief relief amidst the horror. Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski’s work has also been highlighted for effectively capturing the ominous and claustrophobic atmosphere.

While the buildup maintains a high level of suspense, some reviewers expressed that the climax feels somewhat overblown and anticlimactic compared to the earlier tension. Despite this, the latest Resident Evil installment is widely regarded as the most thrilling entry in the film series to date and a noteworthy revitalization of the franchise.