It has been five years since Johannes Roberts’ Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021), and this time around, Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) takes the reins as writer, producer, and director of Resident Evil 2026.
As a lifelong fan of the franchise who has watched every single entry—and holds a soft spot for Paul W. S. Anderson’s action-packed era—I went into the Singapore premiere at Lido Shaw IMAX on September 16, 2026, with equal parts excitement and nervousness.
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This latest entry marks the eighth feature film overall and the second full reboot inspired by Capcom’s iconic survival horror franchise.
Set alongside events that run parallel to the iconic 1998 story of Resident Evil 2—restaged in a contemporary era—the plot follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly wanders straight into a full-scale biohazard nightmare while attempting a routine delivery across Raccoon City.
While officially classified as a horror film, this dynamic adaptation plays out much more like an adrenaline-charged thriller with a light sprinkle of classic horror elements. Read on for our full spoiler-free Resident Evil 2026 review.
Resident Evil 2026 delivers masterful camera work mixed with video game DNA
Cregger’s direction shines in how every second of screen time is leveraged to escalate suspense.
The cinematography, framing, and perspective choices are near-perfection: the film leans heavily into first-person POV shots, instantly evoking the visceral sensation of playing a modern first-person action game.
Whenever the camera breaks out into a wider third-person perspective, it feels like a 1atic cutscene—giving you environmental context or introducing a terrifying new area to navigate.
The accompanying sound design deserves special mention. One specific motif stuck with me: a single, recurring piano note ringing out like a distant bell. It builds a haunting, lingering dread that stays with you long after the lights come up.
Look out for it in the movie—it sets the ideal backdrop for our lead character’s descent into chaos!
Austin Abrams brings relatable “IRL gamer” energy
Austin Abrams gives a standout performance as Bryan—a relatable, everyday guy working a medical delivery gig purely to make ends meet who is also an avid video gamer.
He approaches the outbreak with authentic, “IRL gamer” energy: cussing, panicking, and reacting exactly how most of us would if thrown into a literal nightmare.
While I acknowledge Bryan possesses far more sheer courage than I ever would in the situations he finds himself in, his survival hinges on a generous layer of winter-grade plot armor and just enough luck to carry us through the tight 94-minute runtime.
And trust me, he needs every bit of that luck given the quickening pace of what comes next.
More thriller than horror: Building escalating dread
If you get anxious about jump scares like I do, you’ll be glad to know they are primarily concentrated in the first half as we stick close to Bryan. From there, the movie transitions into escalating dread and sheer momentum.
Bryan enters Raccoon City right at the exact moment when shit hits the fan, leaving you constantly wondering: It’s bad now, but how much worse can it get?
The film continuously sets up high-stakes sequences and delivers every single time. Longtime players will especially appreciate the visual nods and throwbacks to iconic enemy variants from Capcom’s bestiary.
Meanwhile, traditional horror fans won’t be disappointed by the visceral, over-the-top yet detailed gore, a trademark of the RE movies.
The gamer perspective: Thrill, investment, and sub-optimal choices
Overall, watching Resident Evil 2026 feels remarkably like watching someone stream a game. It hits a sweet spot where you are genuinely invested in the protagonist’s survival and the stakes of the environment, yet emotionally detached enough to view it with a degree of distance.
There were several moments where I actively wanted to “grab the controller” and steer Bryan off his chosen path. From an experienced player’s viewpoint, I got frustrated that he continuously makes sub-optimal choices. Oh my god.
While understandable at the start, it becomes almost humorously frustrating when, even after accumulating XP and surviving multiple encounters, his decision-making skills fail to level up.
This entire dynamic feeds directly into the film’s tone: half campy humor, half relentless thriller. I even found myself laughing during inherently horrific scenarios.
Final verdict: A satisfying ride for franchise fans
Resident Evil (2026) is a blast for its tight 94-minute runtime. While the tension and early jump scares made me sweat a bit more than I preferred, it delivers a fun, thrilling theater experience that leaves you completely entertained.
Admittedly, the experience left me missing Alice (Milla Jovovich) and the cool, stylized action of the earlier films—a strong female protagonist will always be my cup of tea compared to an everyday guy stumbling through chaos.
But despite the shift in vibe, my love for this franchise remains intact, and I will definitely be in line for the next one.
