'They Thought It Was Too Funny': Zach Cregger Says He's Cut Most of the Jokes From His Resident Evil Movie, Following Test Screenings

Resident Evil director Zach Cregger has revealed that he removed most of the movie's jokes following test screenings, as the audience found the film too funny, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cregger, known for combining horror and dark humor in his previous works, such as Weapons and Barbarians, decided to tone down the humor after realizing that while the audience liked the film, they thought it was too humorous.

The director pared down the jokes during testing and found that not only did the audience enjoy the movie more, but he also appreciated it more. Cregger maintains that a little bit of humor is sufficient in a horror film, and he does not regret removing any jokes. Ahead of the film's release next week, Cregger has been addressing fan expectations and his decision to focus on an original character and story.

He has admitted that he has been on an "apology tour" due to explaining his choices, particularly his decision to create a new story for the franchise. Cregger has even suggested that this may be the only franchise he attempts to adapt in the future, though he has not completely ruled out the possibility of working on a sequel, given the positive signs thus far.

Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18, promising to be a more serious take on the horror series without overly relying on jokes.