Zach Cregger Shares Which ‘Resident Evil’ Games Influenced His Reboot Vision

Video game adaptations often struggle to capture the essence of their source material, and horror properties face an even greater challenge due to their reliance on pacing and dread rather than just plot. Zach Cregger, who recently enjoyed critical acclaim with ‘Weapons’ and ‘Barbarian,’ has been advocating that his upcoming ‘Resident Evil’ reboot recognizes this crucial distinction.

Instead of adapting a specific storyline from the franchise’s nine mainline games, Cregger has crafted an entirely original narrative while incorporating structural elements from across the series to evoke the true essence of ‘Resident Evil.’ This approach has involved drawing inspiration from various parts of Capcom’s catalog, depending on whether he is discussing pacing or character development.

Cregger recently detailed which entries influenced his creative process the most, specifically naming ‘Resident Evil 4‘ and ‘Resident Evil 7’ as the two games that inspired him while developing the film. He expressed a desire to capture the rhythm and scale of the fourth game while integrating character elements from the seventh, merging two distinct eras of the franchise into a cohesive cinematic vision.

Cregger has been quite clear in previous interviews about his admiration for the fourth game. In a conversation with Deadline, he mentioned wanting to capture the naturally cinematic flow of the games, where the movie transitions from one set piece to another, each location presenting its own unique threat. He noted that this structure is something the games excel at.

This structural philosophy is reflected in how the film escalates throughout its runtime. According to reports from Rolling Stone Philippines, Cregger alters the film’s environment approximately every seven to eight minutes to mimic the way the games shift between levels. Additionally, the protagonist Bryan’s weaponry becomes more powerful as the story unfolds, echoing the classic progression from pistol to shotgun to machine gun familiar to long-time players.

The character influence presents a different narrative. In a Q&A with PlayStation Blog, Cregger drew a direct connection between his lead character and Ethan Winters, the everyman protagonist introduced in ‘Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.’ He contrasted his lead, Bryan, with more traditionally trained heroes like Leon Kennedy, describing Bryan as a relatable individual who isn’t particularly skilled in combat. He is athletic but not an athlete, just an ordinary guy caught in a nightmare.

This choice to focus on an untrained civilian rather than a combat-experienced hero provides the film with its emotional core, according to Cregger. He aims for viewers to experience the story as an average player might feel when dropped into the game for the first time, rather than following a seasoned action hero.

By blending the mechanical intensity of ‘Resident Evil 4’ with the vulnerable, untrained perspective of ‘Resident Evil 7,’ Cregger’s reboot establishes a structural identity that is distinct from both the earlier Milla Jovovich-led film series and the mainline game storylines. This intentional departure has sparked considerable discussion among long-time fans eager to see if an original story can still authentically embody ‘Resident Evil.’

Starring Austin Abrams as Bryan, alongside Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser, and filmed for IMAX release, Cregger’s vision is set to hit theaters on September 18. Whether his fusion of these two very different games translates into the dread-filled experience he promises remains to be seen once audiences experience it.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!