The internet’s reaction to Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie trailer has been decidedly mixed, with many fans suggesting the film looks more like a generic horror flick than a dedicated adaptation. Some viewers even went as far as to claim it looks more like a 28 Days Later spin-off than anything related to the beloved survival horror franchise.

While the trailer featured at least one subtle Easter egg, its focus on an original character and a grotesque new enemy left many long-time fans cold. This is despite Cregger previously stating his intention to create a unique take on the franchise that avoids simply retelling familiar stories.

Why Fans Are Concerned About Resident Evil Canon

The primary criticism stems from the trailer's perceived departure from established lore. Notable points of contention include:

  • Setting Discrepancies: The trailer features a snowy Raccoon City, which contradicts the canonical September 1998 setting of the Resident Evil 2 outbreak.
  • Modern Technology: The presence of a smartphone in the trailer suggests a contemporary timeline, rather than the late 90s era fans expect.
  • Umbrella Corporation Status: In the games, Umbrella collapsed by 2004, yet the film appears to feature the company active in the present day.

Resident Evil Loremaster Calls for Calm

In response to the backlash, the resident Resident Evil loremaster, known as TheBatman, is urging fans to lower their guard. He points out that this new iteration follows a precedent set by previous adaptations, including the Milla Jovovich films and the Welcome to Raccoon City reboot, which were also not strictly bound by game canon.

"To be fair to Zach Cregger, he admitted early on that his movie would not abide to the strict storyline or canon to the games and the trailer certainly reinforces that," TheBatman told IGN. He noted that Cregger’s focus seems to be on recreating the "feeling" of playing a Resident Evil game rather than a literal translation of the plot.

TheBatman suggests that the film likely exists in its own branch of the Resident Evil multiverse. He highlighted that since the protagonist, Brian, uses a smartphone torch, the film clearly isn't set in 1998. "I would urge people not to get riled up about 'canon' and just enjoy the ride," he advised.

Hidden Easter Eggs and Creature Design

Despite the controversy, there are reasons for fans to remain optimistic. The trailer contains several nods to the source material that might have been missed:

  • The Green Herb: A classic staple of the series was spotted in the footage.
  • Audio Nostalgia: The sound of an answering machine bleeping is "lifted straight from the original PS1 RE2 and RE3."
  • Creature Inspiration: The multi-limbed monster could be a tribute to Nyx from Resident Evil: Outbreak File #2, a creature known for absorbing corpses.

While TheBatman described the project as an "original horror film painted in a Resident Evil skin," he expressed excitement given Cregger's impressive track record with films like Barbarian.

Co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, the Resident Evil movie stars Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on September 18.