The Video Game Movie That Actually Gets It Right

The recent spate of video game adaptations has been marked by a notable failure: they rarely capture the essence of the games themselves. Instead, we get watered-down storylines and paper-thin characters, often shoehorned into formulaic blockbusters that fail to deliver on their promise.

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil stands out from the pack with its refreshing mix of humor and irreverence. One of the most striking aspects of Cregger’s approach is his willingness to discard familiar characters and plot points, introducing Bryan, a medical courier with a scruffy beard and a propensity for panic. This might seem like a radical departure from the usual protagonist types, but it’s actually a bold stroke in favor of authenticity.

By eschewing the typical “tough guy” archetype, Cregger creates a more relatable character – one who’s woefully unprepared to face the horrors that await him. This decision also allows Cregger to poke fun at the very notion of character development, as Bryan’s arc is brief and underwhelming.

The slow escalation of Bryan’s arsenal and his gradual acclimation to the horrors he faces are clever nods to the genre’s most enduring tropes. When he finally manages to take down a creature, his triumphant quip is more likely to elicit a chuckle than a roar of approval.

This irreverence is key to Resident Evil’s charm – and its relative success in capturing the essence of the games it adapts. Cregger’s film may not be a masterpiece, but it’s a valiant attempt to breathe new life into a genre that’s been suffocating under the weight of bad adaptations.

Cregger’s decision to poke fun at character development suggests he understands the unique freedom that video game adaptations offer. While film often relies on straightforward narratives and character arcs, games are free to indulge in all manner of experimentation – after all, players can always reload and try again.

Ultimately, Resident Evil may not be a game-changer (pun intended), but it’s a welcome addition to the video game movie canon. By prioritizing humor and irreverence over formulaic storytelling, Cregger proves that it’s possible to create a film that truly gets what makes games tick – and what makes them so much fun to play.