Zach Cregger has found a unique niche in horror filmmaking, successfully balancing dark humor and genuine scares in his latest film, Resident Evil. Unlike his previous work, which sometimes let comedy overshadow tension, Resident Evil uses jokes as a carefully timed misdirection, amplifying the impact of its frightening moments. The film walks a fine line, ensuring that the comedic elements enhance rather than detract from the horror.
Cregger's Balancing Act
One standout example of Cregger's technique is an early scene featuring a protagonist, Bryan, being chased by a dog. After Bryan escapes into a barn and taunts the animal, he celebrates by throwing down the ladder he used to ascend, only to realize he needs it to escape. This sequence highlights the character's flawed nature and the film's darkly comedic tone. Even amidst a tense situation, the humor persists, making Bryan a character to root for despite his buffoonery. Austin Abrams' performance imbues Bryan with a charm that makes his simultaneous capability and questionable decision-making believable.
The scene culminates not with continued jokes, but with a sudden, terrifying jump scare that mimics the iconic moments from the video game series. This jarring shift from levity to shock is a testament to Cregger's control over pacing and tone.
The Joke as a Trap
Cregger himself has noted that the film initially contained too many jokes, necessitating their removal after test screenings. He revealed that he preferred the film with fewer punchlines, recognizing that the humor functions best when it serves as a setup for the horror. This approach honors the Resident Evil franchise's history, which has long blended survival horror with absurd situations and memorable, often unintentionally funny, dialogue.
Memorable lines from the games, such as Barry Burton's "Jill sandwich" or Leon S. Kennedy's "Where's everyone going? Bingo?", exemplify the franchise's inherent campiness. Cregger taps into this legacy, understanding that the absurdity of the situations is as crucial to the Resident Evil experience as the monsters themselves.
By using humor as a trap, Cregger ensures that the scares land with maximum impact. The laughter momentarily lowers the audience's guard, making the sudden bursts of terror even more effective. This strategy proves that Resident Evil's enduring appeal lies not just in its frightening creatures, but in the sheer absurdity of facing them, a legacy Cregger effectively captures.
Some fans may debate the film's comedic elements, but Cregger's approach respects the source material's dual nature. He demonstrates that a successful Resident Evil adaptation need not sacrifice its humorous undertones to deliver genuine horror. The terror is most potent when juxtaposed with the laughter brought on by the nightmare's absurdity.
Resident Evil is currently in theaters.