How Zach Cregger Balanced Horror and Comedy in Resident Evil
Polygon reports that director Zach Cregger successfully blended scary moments and humor in the new Resident Evil adaptation.
Director Zach Cregger has managed to strike a steady balance between comedy and horror in his latest movie adaptation, Resident Evil, according to a recent review by Polygon. Unlike his previous film Weapons, where the writer believes the comedic elements frequently overpowered the scary scenes, this new project maintains a primary focus on genuine dread while using humor carefully.
The review points to a sequence roughly twenty minutes into the film as a prime example of this tonal control. Protagonist Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, escapes a large black guard dog after a car crash by climbing into a snow-covered barn. Once on the upper level, Bryan taunts the animal with a sharp remark and tosses his ladder down in triumph, only to realize seconds later that he has trapped himself upstairs.
The Setup and the Scare
This sequence highlights Bryan's somewhat foolish nature while mirroring the sort of absurd situations players might encounter while playing a Resident Evil video game. Rather than completely ruining the atmosphere, the humor softens the audience before a sudden, aggressive jump scare. After Bryan settles against the barn in relative calm, the dog violently smashes through the wooden wall right next to his face.
Abrams brings a specific charm and conviction to the role that keeps the character likable despite his bad decisions, according to the source. The actor portrays someone who is capable and foolish all at once, making him fit well into the world of a video game horror film.
Refining the Tone
Getting that exact balance required adjustments during production. Cregger revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he cut several jokes after early test screenings indicated the movie was initially too funny, steering him away from repeating the tone issues seen in Weapons. Even with those trims, some purists may still complain that the movie leans too heavily into campy territory.
However, the games themselves have a long history of blending tension with bizarre lines and ridiculous situations over nearly three decades. By using humor as a trap to lower the audience's guard before delivering a major scare, Cregger matches the strange legacy of the franchise without undermining its core terror.
