3 out of 5 monster attacks (average)
Hollywood has pumped out movies based on the Resident Evil video games for 24 years, and the new 2026 version is the first one I’ve enjoyed in any way. It’s a simple, straightforward monster movie carried by rising star Austin Abrams’ likable swarminess and a well-judged mix of tension and humor. Resident Evil 2026 is a funny gorefest that works on its own terms for newbies while having enough references to its source for longtime faithfuls.
Bryan (Austin Abrams) is a wry, immature hospital currier whose girlfriend has just told him she’s pregnant and he’s not down for that. Taking the first excuse he can find Not to have that mature conversation with her, Bryan agrees to take on one last night run: Deliver a critical organ to the faraway Raccoon City General. However, when he gets close, the area is covered in snow and swarming with bloodthirsty creatures looking to take a bite. With nowhere to go but forward, Bryan’s in for the fight of his life to outrun unstoppable enemies, deliver the organ, and get the heck out of bloody dodge ASAP.
Resident Evil’s greatest strength is its simplicity. Whether you’ve played the games or not, the story of X person going into Y creepy town and getting chased by its monstrous denizens is executed with confidence and welcome comedy. Bryan’s dumb as a brick, but Abrams plays that entertainingly so he’s fun rather than frustrating to follow and makes bad decisions most of us would make in his situation. It takes skill to write and play an idiot protagonist, but Abrams and director/cowriter Zach Cregger (Weapons) make it look easy.
The gory stuff in Resident Evil wisely escalates over its brisk 90-minute runtime, the mystery of what’s going on and eventual reveal of that are satisfying, and while there’s one misjudged moment of levity that undercuts a solid emotional moment, the movie is otherwise smart enough to know when to play the scares straight and when to be funny. There are also some sequences that will make video game fans happy without alienating those who don’t know a Sega Genesis from a Game Boy Color and it plays its craziest hand at the end.
I wish Bryan’s maturity arc was emphasized more (Similar to how the Sonic movies balance their arcs with the action), but I went in wanting a fun monster flick and got exactly that, so I’ll call it a success. Also like Sonic, this initial movie sets up the world so a potential sequel could adapt a game storyline, but I’m just happy this one was good. Resident Evil 2026 is a tense, funny, and straightforward monster movie that gets in, delivers exactly what’s promised, and gets out in a crisp 90 minutes. See it if you like zombie or gorefest movies.
Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence, Gore, and Language Throughout (This man swears like a sailor and it’s hilarious)