Resident Evil (2026) Review — Raccoon City Burns Again
The rain starts somewhere past the Raccoon City limits, and by the time your headlights find the welcome sign, it’s coming down in sheets. You’re just a medical courier — one package, one drop-off, one quiet night on the road. The dispatcher said this route was easy money. The dispatcher lied.
The first wrong thing is the silence. No traffic, no lights on the east side, just your radio spitting static and a hospital delivery bag riding shotgun. The second wrong thing is the figure standing in the middle of the road — too still, head cocked like it’s listening to something you can’t hear. And the third wrong thing, the one that torches your whole evening, is what happens when you get close enough to see its face.
Welcome back to Raccoon City, fiends. This time, the nightmare has a director who actually knows what he’s doing.
The Review
Resident Evil (2026) follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams — a medical courier whose routine delivery to Raccoon City goes sideways in spectacularly awful fashion. As the city slides into chaos around him, Bryan has to do the one thing he’s never done: survive the night. No elite special forces team. No chosen one. Just a guy, a delivery manifest, and a city full of things that want to chew on it.
And honestly? That everyman setup is the smartest thing this movie does. Zach Cregger — the madman who gave us Barbarian and Weapons — has taken the franchise back to its survival-horror roots, and the results are deliciously grim. Where the old films went full superhero spectacle, Cregger goes small, sweaty, and mean. Raccoon City feels like a real place again: rain-soaked streets, flickering fluorescents, and hallways that seem to stretch an extra ten feet when you’re running down them.
What works: the dread. Cregger is one of the best tension-builders working today, and he plays the audience like a haunted organ. The set pieces are lean and nasty — this is a ~90-minute movie that wastes exactly zero of them. Austin Abrams sells every second of terror like he’s personally offended by the script. Paul Walter Hauser can make a convenience store feel like a crime scene. Kali Reis brings the intensity, and Zach Cherry — I’ll just say his casting is inspired and leave it at that.
What doesn’t: at 90 minutes, some of the supporting players feel like they showed up for a haunting and got a cameo instead. If you’re deep in the game lore, you’ll catch the nods and grin; if you’re not, a couple of references land without a punchline. And while the final act swings big, one or two of its bigger ideas deserved a longer fuse.
But here’s the thing: Cregger understands something the franchise forgot years ago — horror works best when you’re rooting for someone who could actually lose. Bryan bleeds. Bryan panics. Bryan makes bad decisions at 2 a.m. in a quarantined city, just like you would. That grounded terror, plus a director who trusts atmosphere over jump-scare confetti, makes this the most alive Resident Evil has felt in decades.
Is it perfect? No. Is it the rare franchise entry that makes you excited about what’s next? Absolutely. At 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics agree — and for once, the critics and I are haunting the same house.
Trivia & Facts
- Directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons); written by Cregger & Shay Hatten.
- Stars Austin Abrams (Bryan), Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser.
- US theatrical release: September 18, 2026, via Sony Pictures.
- Runtime: ~90 minutes. Rated R.
- Certified at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- A fresh take on the franchise — not connected to the previous Resident Evil films.
- Returns the series to Raccoon City and its survival-horror roots, honoring the game lore.
Harper’s Extras
- Dive deeper into the genre at the Think Horror wiki.
- For another 2026 horror standout, read Harper’s Mārama (2026) review — gothic horror with a vengeance.
Where to Watch
- In theaters now — released September 18, 2026, via Sony Pictures.
- Digital rental and purchase to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Resident Evil (2026) a reboot?
More like a resurrection with better aim. It’s a fresh take on the franchise — not connected to the previous Resident Evil films. New story, new characters, same doomed city.
Where can I watch Resident Evil (2026)?
In theaters now, following its September 18, 2026 release, with digital rental and purchase expected to follow. Check your local listings — this one is worth the big screen.
Who directed Resident Evil (2026)?
Zach Cregger, the horror heavyweight behind Barbarian and Weapons. He co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten.
Is Resident Evil (2026) connected to the games?
It takes place in Raccoon City and honors the game lore, but it’s its own beast — no homework required to enjoy the scares.
