Director Zach Cregger has adjusted the comedic elements in his upcoming Resident Evil film, a decision prompted by feedback from test screenings. Cregger, known for balancing horror with humor in films like Barbarian and Weapons, stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that early audiences found his initial cut of Resident Evil to be "too funny." Consequently, he removed a significant portion of the jokes.
Cregger explained that while the test audiences enjoyed the movie, the level of humor present was unexpected. "So over the course of my testing, I stripped out as much of the jokes as possible," he said. The director believes that humor in horror serves as crucial comic relief, offering viewers a moment to recover before the next scare. He added that "a little bit of humour goes a long way in a horror movie."
However, Cregger warned against an overabundance of jokes, suggesting it can undermine the genre. "Too many jokes can turn it into a gimmick," he noted. He elaborated that excessive humor, particularly in a film with fantastical elements like "rabid zombies doing weird stuff," can diminish the overall atmosphere. Following the reduction of jokes, Cregger reported that both the audience's reception and his own satisfaction with the film improved.
Resident Evil characters are no strangers to quippy dialogue; Leon Kennedy, for instance, is known for his action-movie-style one-liners. Yet, the effectiveness of such humor in the games often relies on its infrequency, providing brief respites rather than constant comedic beats. The director's adjustments aim to maintain the delicate balance required to keep the audience engaged and appropriately unnerved.