Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Movie Includes First-Person Sequences — and Yes, Umbrella Is Involved
Zach Cregger’s upcoming Resident Evil film adaptation will feature first-person point-of-view sequences to honor the video game series’ distinctive gameplay style. Newly released footage includes first-person camera angles showing a character wielding a shotgun while moving through a house and another scene of a pistol-wielding protagonist facing off against a zombie.
The film stars Austin Abrams as protagonist Bryan. Cregger has expressed deep reverence for the source material, stating that he “worships these Resident Evil games” and draws significant creative inspiration from playing them. He is committed to maintaining authenticity to the franchise’s roots while adapting it for film.
However, staying true to Resident Evil presents a unique challenge, as the 30-year-old franchise has undergone substantial evolution throughout its history. The series has shifted in tone, gameplay mechanics, and narrative direction multiple times, making it difficult to determine which elements constitute the “true” Resident Evil experience.
Cregger appears focused on capturing the atmosphere and feel of playing the games rather than simply recreating specific storylines. The inclusion of first-person sequences suggests an attempt to translate the immersive, visceral quality of first-person Resident Evil gameplay into a cinematic format, potentially bridging longtime fans who have experienced the games across multiple eras with new audiences approaching the franchise solely through film.
The film is expected to include references to Umbrella, the bioweapons corporation central to the Resident Evil universe. With Cregger’s demonstrated passion for the source material and willingness to integrate game-specific elements, the adaptation appears to take a thoughtful approach to translating interactive entertainment to the big screen.