Zach Cregger’s upcoming Resident Evil film is drawing fire from fans who want it to stick strictly to the games. The film, which runs parallel to the events of Resident Evil 2 instead of following them shot-for-shot, has some fans complaining about its liberal interpretations of the T-virus. To which one critic responds: if you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.
The critic, writing for PC Gamer, argues that Capcom itself has already broken the established lore many times. Fans, she says, should have more faith in Cregger given his love of the games and his filmography, which includes Barbarian and Weapons.
The Case Against Strict Lore
The biggest complaint is that the film doesn’t follow the games closely enough. Some fans want a shot-for-shot remake, while the film will include its own versions of the T-virus and its effects.
She points to Capcom’s own history of changing details across remakes and spin-offs, and argues that Cregger is well within his rights to play on how the virus affects the infected.
She also notes that Capcom has already created a clone of Wesker in Resident Evil Requiem, a game that pulls from the Outbreak spin-off series and contradicts Resident Evil 2 and 3 in parts.
Capcom’s Own Broken Lore
The critic offers several examples of Capcom changing established details. Here are the changes she cites:
- Krauser’s allegiance: In the original Resident Evil 4, he works for Wesker and grabs a sample of the ambfer. In the remake, he switches sides to become one of Saddler’s henchmen.
- Brad Vickers’ death: In the original Resident Evil 3, he dies after being turned into a shish kebab by Nemesis. In the remake, he is bitten by a generic zombie while saving Jill.
- The outbreak timeline: The original games show multiple outbreaks by September 25th, with a military blockade in place. The remakes reset the timeline to make September 25th the main start, with only one cannibal case cited a few weeks earlier.
- Leon’s backstory: Requiem uses the original story of Leon being late for his first day at the RPD, ignoring the remake’s version where he is told to stay away.
- Raccoon City’s fate: Requiem decides the city wasn’t completely destroyed after the thermobaric missile, contradicting the remake’s depiction.
Spencer’s Redemption
One of the strangest changes, the critic argues, is Spencer’s character arc in Requiem. The villain of the series is turned into a remorseful old man whose final act is to undo his life’s work to make the world better.
“That was wild,” she writes.
Zeno’s Clone
The critic describes Requiem‘s Zeno as a Wesker clone who is genetically predisposed to wear trenchcoats and sunglasses. The developers clearly wanted to bring Wesker back from the bottom of the volcano, she says, but couldn’t justify it, so they just went with a clone instead.
“I thought Zeno was great, so no complaints here.”
The Survival Horror Roots
For the critic, the key to a good Resident Evil adaptation isn’t strict fidelity. It’s understanding what makes the games scary and honouring the survival horror roots.
She argues that Capcom’s willingness to change old choices means the team can make the best games possible. The latest entries and remakes are better for it, she says.
Give Cregger Grace
The critic closes by asking fans to give Cregger some grace. She acknowledges that the film should be judged on its own merits once it arrives, but she wants the conversation to be more generous in the meantime.
She also notes that the film industry hasn’t been forever scared off from adapting the games by Paul W. S. Anderson.
The takeaway is simple: Capcom has already broken the lore, so fans shouldn’t hold the film to a higher standard than the games themselves. The critic’s argument is a fair one, dressed in jokes about zombies and Wesker clones.
The film’s trailers have been promising, and the critic is excited to see a Resident Evil movie that understands vibes over strict adherence to lore. The verdict will come later, but for now, the advice is to relax and enjoy the ride.
Source material: “The Resident Evil film should be more concerned with understanding the roots of its survival horror than adhering to strict lore accuracy,” PC Gamer.
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