Zach Cregger’s films are known for leaving audiences with plenty to think about, but “Resident Evil” may be his most bewildering movie yet — particularly for viewers unfamiliar with the sprawling mythology of the franchise. Watch Looper’s video above for an explanation of the film’s strangest and most confusing moments.
Cregger’s bold interpretation of the classic survival-horror video game series has made a major impact almost immediately. “Resident Evil” has performed impressively at the box office while earning widespread praise from critics. Looper reviewer Alistair Ryder described the film as a bloody, chaotic thrill ride, a reaction reflected in its 95% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. Even with its apparent success as a piece of horror filmmaking, however, the movie includes plenty of unusual details that could leave newcomers to Raccoon City searching for answers.
Resident Evil tells you what its protagonist knows, which is not a lot
Sony Pictures Releasing
The story is told largely from the perspective of Bryan (Austin Abrams), an ordinary man who finds himself trapped in an extraordinary nightmare. From the opening scenes, the film emphasizes how different Bryan is from Alice (Milla Jovovich), the highly trained and relentlessly prepared heroine of earlier “Resident Evil” movies. Compared with her, Bryan is hardly equipped to face the mutated creatures and deadly threats closing in around him.
Since the audience experiences the crisis alongside Bryan, information is revealed only as he discovers it himself. Most of the time, he is too occupied with surviving, processing the horrors around him and reacting to Raccoon City’s bizarre dangers to piece together the larger picture. That limited perspective deliberately keeps both Bryan and viewers uncertain about what is truly happening.
The approach effectively captures the frantic, disorienting survival-horror feel associated with the “Resident Evil” games, though it also leaves behind a number of mysteries. Looper’s video breaks down the movie’s most puzzling scenes and offers insight into the details that may have left audiences confused.
“Resident Evil” is currently playing in theaters.
