Zach Cregger's upcoming Resident Evil film draws inspiration from Resident Evil 6, the 2012 entry that fans largely rejected. Production designer Tom Hammock confirmed creatures from the divisive game will appear in the movie during a set visit with GamesRadar.
The choice raises eyebrows. Resident Evil 6 remains one of the franchise's most criticized installments, criticized for its bloated campaign, unfocused design, and departure from survival horror roots. That Cregger's team mined it for material suggests they found value in specific elements fans dismissed overall, likely the creature designs rather than the game's narrative or mechanics.
The film also pulls from Resident Evil 4, the 2005 masterpiece widely considered the series' creative peak. Blending inspiration from both games represents a risky creative gamble. Resident Evil 4's legacy looms large, while Resident Evil 6's reputation could weigh down the project if handled poorly.
Cregger directed the horror-comedy Barbarian, so his sensibility differs from previous Resident Evil filmmakers. Whether mining Resident Evil 6's creature catalog while avoiding its design philosophy works remains to be seen. The film needs to justify these specific choices, not simply borrow aesthetics from a game most players wanted to forget.