How The Resident Evil Movie Borrows From RE4 And RE7

Ahead of the theatrical release of the new Resident Evil film later this month, director Zach Cregger participated in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to address fan questions. While promotional trailers have already hinted at several Easter eggs that gaming enthusiasts will easily spot, Cregger focused on a deeper, more fundamental connection to the source material. Specifically, he discussed how the cinematic language of the games, including their distinct camera perspectives, heavily shaped his approach to directing the horror film.

According to Cregger, the primary inspiration he drew from the video games was cinematic rather than narrative. He explained that his generation and younger audiences grew up with their visual preferences shaped equally by interactive gaming and traditional filmmaking. Having spent a significant portion of his childhood playing video games alongside watching movies, Cregger noted that certain camera styles have become deeply ingrained in the modern viewer's subconscious.

The director highlighted the unique psychological impact of both third-person and first-person camera angles. He noted that these perspectives allow players to map out and understand a physical environment at the exact same pace as the character they are controlling. This shared discovery fosters a heightened sense of immersion, making the audience feel deeply connected to the character's immediate point of view because they are experiencing the setting in tandem.

Applying this logic to the big screen, Cregger felt it was only natural to adopt this established visual vocabulary for a Resident Evil movie. Because the film's narrative centers on a character navigating a dangerous journey on foot, the director chose to choreograph specific sequences to mimic the look and feel of the games. He explained that this stylistic choice is intended to train the audience early in the film, establishing the visual rules for how they will experience the journey of the main character.

The protagonist of the film is Bryan, a medical courier portrayed by actor Austin Abrams. To shape Bryan's harrowing experience, Cregger looked directly to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. The director noted that the 2017 game served as a major influence due to its depiction of an ordinary, everyday person being thrust into an incredibly grueling and extreme survival situation.

While Resident Evil 7 informed the character dynamics, Resident Evil 4 served as the blueprint for the movie's overall pacing and structure. Cregger expressed a strong fondness for the rhythm of the fourth game, which constantly propels players from one distinct set piece and location to the next. He praised the massive scale of Resident Evil 4, pointing out how it continuously offers fresh environments by transitioning from a rural village to a gothic castle, and ultimately to an island.

By blending these two distinct influences, Cregger aimed to capture the grand scale and relentless momentum of Resident Evil 4 while maintaining the grounded, vulnerable character elements of Resident Evil 7. The director has promised that the final product will deliver a fast-paced cinematic experience packed with bizarre and unsettling imagery. Fans will be able to see this video game-inspired vision come to life when the movie debuts in theaters on September 18.