Director Zach Cregger has revealed that the upcoming film Resident Evil draws significant cinematic inspiration from the video game series, particularly its gameplay perspectives and pacing.
During a Reddit Ask Me Anything session, Cregger explained that the visual language of games like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7 informed his approach to the movie's direction. He noted that for his generation, video games have shaped visual tastes as much as films have. Cregger specifically pointed to the ingrained sense of immersion provided by third-person and first-person camera perspectives in games, where players learn environments alongside the characters.
"I feel like the biggest inspiration for this was the games, and I mean cinematically," Cregger stated. "I'm not talking about the content of the movie. I'm talking about the visual language of the movie."
Cregger elaborated that scenes were choreographed to mimic this gameplay style, aiming to orient viewers early on to the character's journey, portrayed by Austin Abrams as medical courier Bryan. The film also takes cues from Resident Evil 7 for its depiction of an ordinary person facing extreme circumstances.
Resident Evil 4, in particular, was a key influence on the film's rhythm and scale. "Resident Evil 4 has the rhythm that I really like, where you're moving from set piece to set piece, location to location," Cregger said. He admired how Resident Evil 4 transitions through diverse environments, from its village to its castle and island settings, offering a continuous stream of experiences. Cregger aims to capture this sense of scale and progression in the film, combining it with character elements from Resident Evil 7.
The film Resident Evil is set to release on September 18, with Cregger promising a fast-paced experience featuring "fucked up and weird" imagery for fans.