Austin Abrams, who portrays courier Bryan in the recent Resident Evil film, has shared his initial reaction to the movie's ending, describing it as "crazy and shocking." Bryan's story concludes with him succumbing to his injuries and turning into a zombie just as a cure for the outbreak is developed, a fate that prevents him from reunying with his pregnant girlfriend.
Abrams characterized director Zach Cregger's decision to give Bryan such a grim end as "risky and gutsy," particularly in an era where downbeat conclusions are often avoided to maintain audience engagement and positive word-of-mouth. He recounted his surprise upon first reading the script but ultimately appreciated Cregger's bold storytelling approach.
"With a lot of movies nowadays, they’re a little too afraid to do something like that — to kill off a character you really like," Abrams told The Hollywood Reporter. "And if they do, the blow is softened in some way so it doesn't hurt too much. Whereas a lot of older films don’t do that; they just rip your heart out. We're here to feel, man. We're here to go through something. So I'm just appreciative that Zach is willing to take a risk like that."
This narrative choice diverges significantly from the typically heroic endings featured in the Resident Evil video game series. Cregger reportedly made further adjustments to the film's conclusion during post-production, utilizing additional footage to enhance the tragic impact of the finale.