Resident Evil movie review: This joyride lives up unapologetically to its legacy

Resident Evil movie review: If just five words can sum up this adaptation, they would be "What is this sh*t now?" The film unabashedly stays true to its gaming roots, whizzing and crashing along, creating quite the thrilling ride. Zach Cregger, who also penned the script with Shay Hatten, steers the movie with an impressive performance by Austin Abrams, who plays Bryan, a courier tasked with delivering medical supplies, often organs for donation.

The plot kicks off when Bryan receives a last-minute request to deliver a package to Raccoon General Hospital in a snowstorm, unaware that his life is about to take a terrifying turn. Abrams does an admirable job playing a boy-man who, aside from his naive nature, shows remarkable pluck and charm. Throughout the film, his constant banter, peppered with honest abuses, is surprisingly effective and fits well within the video game narrative.

The characters, though, struggle to provide much substance, with Zach Cherry's scientist coming across as detached and almost Severance-esque. Despite the mounting body count, blood, and flesh-piled action, the film manages to keep the pace lively, thanks to the well-placed jump scares. The cinematography, led by Dariusz Wolski, adds to the nightmarish atmosphere with its striking use of snow, lights, and shadows.

While the film does get a touch excessive in the end, it’s hard to deny the warning signs that had been set up throughout.