The unofficial festival opener of this year’s Fantastic Fest is the new movie from acclaimed horror filmmaker Zach Cregger. The film is the latest adaptation of the Resident Evil video game franchise. When I initially heard that Cregger’s latest cinematic offering would screen at Austin’s beloved genre film festival, I was ecstatic. Though I have never played any Resident Evil games, and I barely remember the few previous Resident Evil movies I watched long ago, I highly anticipated what Cregger had to offer with his take.
Cregger alum Austin Abrams (Weapons) stars as medical courier Bryan. Bryan has already had a full day of delivering organs and medical supplies to and from medical facilities. He is already late for meeting his girlfriend when he decides to take on one more assignment for some bonus money. Bryan’s assignment is to take a valuable and seemingly sensitive package to the Raccoon City General Hospital. Due to a nasty snowstorm and icy road conditions, Bryan accidentally collides with what seems to be a stranded pedestrian along the way. However, this incident soon becomes the least of his troubles, as a viral outbreak turns people into ferocious zombies and other bizarre mutations.
Written and directed by Zach Cregger, who co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten, Resident Evil delivers intense horror thrills while also entertaining with often hilarious humor and creatively conceived scenarios inspired by the celebrated game series. Cregger keeps the story relatively simple, but character-driven through his protagonist, Bryan. Bryan is no action hero. He may as well be an average Joe playing the video game at home. In making this choice, Cregger and Hatten make their protagonist so relatable to their audience. While he is deserving of empathy, it is nevertheless often uproarious to see Bryan’s comical reactions to the craziness around him.
Austin Abrams, who portrays Bryan, gives an outstanding turn. The actor not only has a lovable personality and great screen presence, but he is also naturally gifted at being funny. This is his journey, and Abrams genuinely earns this opportunity to shine as a lead. The film also features a delightfully comical appearance by Paul Walter Hauser, plus great supporting turns from Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Will Merrick.
Though Resident Evil was not the official opening night film of Fantastic Fest 2026, it definitely got the attendees ready for eight days of thrills, chills, and other kinds of cinematic amusement and mayhem. Though I find Cregger’s latest horror feature to be my least favorite, I still think it is a great one. I highly recommend it to horror fans. You don’t have to be a fan of the game series to appreciate this film.