Our Take

Resident Evil arrives with a particularly high bar because the video-game series already has an enormous fan base and a long history of screen adaptations. The new film has an opportunity to approach the material from a darker and more character-focused direction while still delivering the horror and creature-driven spectacle audiences expect.

The project is especially interesting because of director Zach Cregger, whose recent work has demonstrated a strong interest in combining horror with character and unexpected storytelling choices. That makes this more than a simple exercise in bringing familiar game imagery back to theaters.

Until the finished film arrives, the smartest approach is to keep expectations measured. The ingredients are promising, but the real test will be whether the movie can satisfy longtime Resident Evil fans while working as a compelling horror film on its own.