At the recent Resident Evil x Discord Fan Event at Comic-Con, writer-director and horror aficionado Zach Cregger, along with star Austin Abrams, shared some exclusive insights into their highly anticipated adaptation of the popular horror video game series.
The Birth of a Horror Film
When asked about what drew Abrams to the project, he explained that it was Cregger’s passion for the series that won him over. ‘For me, it was Zach doing his own thing with this series,’ Abrams said. ‘I just loved working with him so much. I knew that even though it was Resident Evil, I was excited and not nervous because he loved Resident Evil. He’s played so much of it that I felt I can really trust him. It was very much about trusting him and being like, ‘Let’s do fucking whatever, let’s make some shit.’
Cregger’s vision for the film is centered around preserving the essence of the Resident Evil franchise. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the tone and rhythm that defines the series, stating, ‘It’s like this kind of slow progression deeper and deeper into hell. And in the first act of the movie, he’s creeping into darkness, and then at a certain point, he’s running for his life.’ He further clarified that the film is a survival horror, not a survival action, and that the goal is to replicate the intense, grounded dread and atmosphere of the games.
The Making of a Horror Movie
Cregger explained that the film’s 95-minute runtime was a deliberate choice to keep the story lean and mean. ‘I think movies are too long, dude,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a dog at home, and if I go to a movie, I sit through a half hour of trailers and then the movie, and I’m driving back home. I’m half-joking, but I think it was just a challenge to tell a really efficient story without any extra calories.’ He also revealed that the decision not to include fan-favorite characters like Lady Dimitrescu or Wesker was intentional, as he wanted to celebrate the games without cannibalizing their unique elements.
Cregger’s attention to detail is evident in the film’s set design, which includes practical effects and clever camera work. He explained that the camera operator, James Van Der Reyden, and Abrams had to work in lockstep to achieve the desired effect, saying, ‘The reason for that is because in the video games, you’re following your avatar, so when you look left the camera swings left, and when you look right the camera swings to look right. I wanted to do that also with the movie, which means Austin and James have to be in lockstep.’
Hidden Gems and Easter Eggs
Cregger and Abrams also shared some exciting details about the film’s hidden gems and easter eggs. Cregger revealed that there are several objects directly from the game, such as herbs and a typewriter, that will be featured in the film. He also mentioned that locks and padlocks play a big role in the movie, which is a nod to the games. Abrams added that the film’s climax is a standout moment, saying, ‘The Jump Street sequence that’s in the trailer where he’s running down the street and these zombies are leaping off the buildings while things are exploding all around him — we did it practically and it was super intense.’
Cregger concluded by stating that the last 30 seconds of the movie are particularly meaningful to him, saying, ‘So when I watch that, when the movie ends, I’m always really happy.’
