Which Resident Evil Games Inspired Zach Cregger’s Upcoming Horror Movie

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Zach Cregger, who directed the new Resident Evil film, has shared which games from the Resident Evil series had the biggest influence on his work.

As a huge fan, I’ve been following the Resident Evil series for years, and it’s amazing to see how popular it still is! There have been so many movies, shows, and extra games over the years, but the newest game, Resident Evil Requiem, is a massive hit. It sold seven million copies in just two months, which makes it the fastest-selling Resident Evil game ever – that’s incredible!

While visiting the set of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie, production designer Tom Hammock shared how deeply the Resident Evil video games influenced the director. He described Cregger as a passionate gamer who meticulously studied the games’ inner workings, explaining that Cregger would carefully analyze their mechanics. Hammock then continued with his comments.

Zach is a huge gaming enthusiast. When we began working on the project, we watched Resident Evil 2, 3, 4, and 6 together. He carefully studied the games, paying close attention to how they create scares and control movement – things like the use of doorways, flashlight effects, and how information is revealed to the player.

Hammock, after watching and studying several Resident Evil games with Cregger, believes the upcoming movie could draw inspiration from different titles in the series. For example, Resident Evil 2 is famous for its disorienting design, featuring tight corridors, challenging puzzles, and a constant sense of characters trying to escape.

Many players find Resident Evil 3 to be a more fast-paced and action-packed game. It introduced new enemies with quicker, more dynamic behaviors, a trend that continued in Resident Evil 4. That sequel featured a new over-the-shoulder camera angle and even more intense, violent enemies.

The games frequently feature dark environments, making flashlights essential. This, combined with a generally unsettling and tense mood and limited supplies, are key features. According to Hammock, the filmmakers closely studied how scares and movement work in the Resident Evil games, suggesting the movie will likely use similar techniques to create suspense.

The Resident Evil franchise is famous for its frightening atmosphere, and director Zach Cregger proved his ability to create suspenseful, scary scenes – particularly in enclosed spaces like tunnels and hallways – with his film Barbarian. This experience is relevant because Resident Evil often features similar environments. Furthermore, Cregger’s work on Weapons showed he can effectively manage a large ensemble cast, which would be necessary for a Resident Evil movie or series.

Cregger has admitted to spending a significant amount of time playing these games, praising their immersive atmosphere, well-managed pace, strategic resource management, and sense of dread. These influences suggest the story will likely draw heavily from the styles of the second and third games, combined with the intense action and aggression of Resident Evil 4.

Resident Evil will arrive in theaters on September 18, 2026.

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2026-04-30 17:08