My Review of Zach Cregger’s, Resident Evil

At the time of writing this, I am a 39 year old man whom got introduced to Resident Evil initially by my older brother when I was 10 years old. In this year of 1997, the only way to play Playstation in our North Queensland homestead, was on a sun drenched, reflective Tube TV with very primitive adaptions to connect the two

There is still something magic to me about that era, as similar to a novel would be in it's suggestion through narrative, you (certainly I do at least) paint pictures in your mind of what you imagine the tale to look like as you're exploring it. Same to me, was experiencing a Playstation #1 game in the 90's on a barely visible tube Tv, especially so during Daytime. No matter how you tried to obscure light

When I first were introduced to the initial Resident Evil, it was at the entertainment of my older brother and his friends whom were eagerly awaiting my reaction to all the fresh jumpscares I was yet to experience

This combined with the suggestion visually Resident Evil portrayed at this time, telling tales through diary entries and discovered documents in game, it managed to reach a part of my soul that fully enthralled me. This was set in the year 1998, which at the time was ✨future✨ to my present time of 1997 .. How innovative of Capcom

The year 1998 has consequently held been since held in stasis by Capcom due to this becoming so important in the overall Resident Evil lore as, 'The Mansion Incident'. Such has been the curse since of adaptions and retellings as well as non-canon additions to the series

I strongly believe, this decade in history of the 90's is perfect for any and all horror to be set, things are just too modern otherwise to truly give me the creeps if they venture forward in time with their setting

I can give concessions to this perspective, such as the latest Resident Evil Requiem.  Moments throughout that release are so horrific, disgusting, gorey, violent and terrifying as anything the series had yet to offer

I recently brushed up on some lore of the initial Resident Evil movie which was originally going to be the project of Zombie Daddy, George A Romero. Long story short on the inception and inevitable collapse of that was, the producer apparently who bought the rights hated gore, upon recieving  Romeros drafts and storyboards, he dismantled the entire connection between Romero and instead moved to an Action heavy, violence ommitted vision that Paul Anderson steered the film adaptions towards

As someone whom's favourite game series is Resident Evil, I've detested every adaption so far. It's been beyond painful to suffer my peers tell me 'they're not that bad, you're just a wierd fan about it'. To anyone that ever told me the Netflix series was good, I wish you nothing but the worst

After seeing 28 years later; Bone Temple, I felt my cup was full in terms of my taste in horror and for a while I didn't seek any horror films, instead immersing myself in the Resident Evil & other Survival horror video games. Then recently there was a revelation, the movies Obsession & Weapons took over the public Zeitgeist and took massive discussion in most social circles

Embarisingly what happened to me was, I got the movies confused. All I knew was, 'I had to see Weapons' 'I had to see Obsession', then out of nowhere, 'The director is directing the new Resident Evil movie!!'

In my abundance lifestyle, I then watched Weapons. Then I watched this movie called 'Obsession'

For some reason, when I went to watch Obsession, I had it drilled in, 'if this guy who directed this is directing the new Resident Evil, I'm gonna judge him on his vibe'

This isn't a blogpost reviewing Obsession or Weapons, it's reviewing Resident Evil. I got hyped for this new Resident Evil  based off Obsession, long story short, I got the Directors mixed up, made an ass of myself trying to join in on the conversation and wanted to keep my connection from there private again. I wanted my mind protected from others opinions and I had faith either way, this new Resident Evil adaption was going to rule

In the leadup, Zach Cregger (the actual Director) started promoting the movie along with it's snippets to tease the public with. Without this article being about the movies leadup to release, the main points on this time frame I'd like to point out are;

-Interviewers started to catch Zach Cregger out as a 'fake fan' and he had very performative reactions to harmless fan questions

-Fans were only making hit pieces on this director, condemning Capcom and his involvement before even giving anything a chance

-Zach Cregger said in this leadup to the release to the effect of, his treatment and criticism had given him the ick and he was not going to be returning in any capacity to the series after the way this rollout had gone

Since these events, the movie broke records and has since become the (by far) most criticially acclaimed & polarising adaption of the entire series

This is a Spoiler review, I am discussing everything I want to and ommitting no details for the sake of transparency in my review

I made the day to go out to the only iMax we have locally, which is in the Gold Coast. After experiencing other iMax theatres across the country, I was pretty dissapointed by our only option in the Gold Coast, however I'm still glad I experienced it this way and would recommend others see this in iMax

When Zach was able to discuss his direction of this movie without dingus interviewers trying to catch him out as a 'fake fan', was that the movie was able to filmed in a way that enabled the viewer to experience this thrill ride as if the pacing were a game, with subtle yet brilliant camera tricks that really shine by being filmed for iMax

This was so true, the camera work and dance he has pulled off in this cinematic telling are the first to have me feel satiated as a thrill seeker and long term fan of the series

He's managed to finally pull the set piece out of the era of 1998, bring it to modern audiences, make concessions for the betterment of the tale such as even changing the season the outbreak takes place in

This Resident Evil captures fully the satisfaction of starting off with nothing as a protagonist , and progress from there to feel the sense of accomplishment from being a character blinded by adrenaline and fear, to someone still blinded by adrelaince and fear, this time armed with folio of firearms and his capacity is at baseline horrified throughout

This whole telling is fully body horror and all vibe, something NO other adaption has even been interested in respecting let alone conveying

To any 'fan' out there who has just been a backseat driver, couch sitting wannabe coach to this whole release, NONE of you know ANYTHING about directing a movie, let alone what's involved in pacing, payoff, budget and grand vision

Zach Gregor took an artistic approach to this release, that of which NO other has in the history of the adaptions. This art is being recognised, I'm glad I was there for the premiere to catch this before anyone could spoil any of it for me

The macguffins that propel this story forward are dripping with intirigue, Zach really knows how make a linear path something unique in it's break neck constant barrage of bad luck and unpredictable set pieces (outside of it always being in a city at somepoint)

What I loved most about Requiem, was how much disgusting shit got thrown on Grace ALL throughout. When all she wanted to was go home and not be in the set piece of the unrelenting horrors of Rhodes Hill Chronic care center, they had here showered in rotting corpses, gallons of blood from the deceased, gave her non chance at anything that just wanted to kill & devour her alive

I loved Grace's horrific journey, likewise how I loved this protaginists disgusting journey. His screams as he is always witnessing new horrific moments and being drenched in truely disgusting gore, it's married so well to the vibe that's been reinvented each time with every new Residnet Evil main title release, and now finally in cinematic form

The zombies in this release are sparse and not in focus much at all throughout, but when they are, especially as a horde rising in the nursery scene, it's just gorgeous, and a treat in the cinema universe of Resident Evil I've been waiting for for so long

After I left the iMax experience, I had a lot to reflect on. I was dissappoin by the Gold Coasts iMax experience, but hindsight showed me it truely resonated with my soul, the subtle affects that iMax offers really did immerse me and make it a paramount experience throughout

I always want something new from Resident Evil, I'll take what I can get, controversially though, I hate Gun-foo, I can't stand the Mila Jovovich movies. I am disgiusted the netflix series ever got made and I don't even wanna discuss the putrid cash out that was Welcome to Raccoon city..

None of the naysayers know what is involved with doing scrutinised media campaigns that goes beyond your paycheck , most of you don't even know how to edit and post a reel let alone make a movie .. me included!!

Concessions need to be made for Cregger for me to consider your opinion to be non-bias

No one loves this series more than me, just after lockdown lifted is when I started my Resident Evil tattoo sleeve, full coverage

The artist didn't know diddly squat about Resident Evil when I enquired with him. Why would I get my entire arm tattooed by an artist who isn't familiar with my favourite game in theme & question?

Because I thought he was the sickest artist for the job!!

Cregger, all cards on the table, was the best artist for this job

He took liberties and dominated both sides of the fandom and people oblivious to the series as a whole

I really loved in Requiem how it took the liberty to give the zombies dialogue, glimmers of their dying lives caught in a putrid, rotting, living corpse version of themselves

To have this main character Cregger's, begging for help right up until the final moments in a very Moreau inspired performance

What really had me in a good place at the end was the juxtaposition of filth to clinical in the lab scene, as everything became fog and very graphic impulses of horrific violence.

It was a beautiful opera in that point, of characters who were all the foley of their own demise.

A glimpse that always reminds me ... I would not survive in Raccoon City

I wish I had more thumbs so I could give it more thumbs up

Thank you Cregger for finally giving us Cinema after a long line of straight-to-DVD quality garbage we only had prior

Thanks for reading <3