Image: Sony Pictures

I already know what you're thinking: after six Milla Jovovich-led movies and Welcome to Raccoon City, calling something "the best Resident Evil film ever" isn't exactly saying very much.

The flicks based on Capcom's iconic horror series have been fun but ultimately poor for almost 25 years now. As the games have only gotten better, the films went in the opposite direction.

Up steps Weapons director Zach Cregger, then, with a standalone and original take on the franchise that finally bucks the trend.

Resident Evil is not a video game movie adaptation; it has absolutely no interest in subscribing to the established lore. It does its own thing; it makes its own story. The most you'll get are some passing references to items from the games.

Free of the lore dating back 30 years, Cregger finds freedom in a simple story of a courier and a medical package. A tight 90-minute runtime plots Bryan's journey to Raccoon City General Hospital from one town over, with an important delivery by his side.

It's a horrifying yet surprisingly funny one.

Bryan starts the flick with relationship issues and a duty of care, attempting to save someone he's run over on the way to Raccoon City. By the end of it, he's embraced the absurdity of the night and started spraying MP5 bullets about the place.

It leans into the horror at all the right moments, from dark corners hiding twists on the T-Virus and its creations to very strong jump scares.

That's perhaps the most enticing aspect of the film for long-time Resident Evil fans: Cregger doesn't bother with snail-paced zombies.

Through a new interpretation of the T-Virus, he's created a new way for the undead to twist and contort themselves, and has truly gone to town with the mutated monsters that come after.

In between these stretches of terror is an unexpected amount of comedy. I've seen Weapons, so I know how that movie turns in its final act, but Cregger has dialled it up in Resident Evil. For me, personally, there was a bit too much humour.

All the jokes landed and worked in context; I'm not debating their actual quality. I just would have preferred more world-building over an additional gag, for the film doesn't give much away outside of Bryan's personal experiences on the night. It's the night of the outbreak in Raccoon City, so there's so much that could be explored.

As a whole, though, the film strikes a nice balance between action, horror, and comedy. It's never too long before a new idea or scenario presents itself to keep you gripped.

The way it lightly slots itself into the Resident Evil universe is smart, too. Like I said, it's not trying to line up with the exact events of late September 1998, as Leon arrives in town while Jill is trying to escape. Instead, it drops references in an "if you know, you know" fashion. Fans will notice the typewriter, the green herbs, and the shotgun shells, but this will be simple set dressing that doesn't look out of place to casual viewers.

Whether it's intentional or not, the film is also lightly structured similarly to a Resident Evil game campaign. The movie sets itself in specific locations, allowing Bryan time there to get to grips with the place before moving on to the next. It is sort of like a Resident Evil Requiem, where the title can be split up into multiple distinct scenarios.

All of that is a mere bonus on top of a fantastic horror-comedy ride through the worst night of Bryan's life. Casual fans will love it, and the hardcore should appreciate the commitment to doing its own thing while fitting the universe.

It doesn't need a licker. It doesn't need a Nemesis. It doesn't need a cameo from Leon, Claire, or Jill.

All Resident Evil wants to be is a great film, and that's exactly what it is. I just hope Zach Cregger hasn't been so put off by the fans that we don't get another one.

Resident Evil is available in movie theatres from 18th September 2026. Will you be going to see the film? Let us know in the comments below.