For over two decades, fans of the Resident Evil games have endured one disappointing movie adaptation after another. The 2021 attempt, Welcome to Raccoon City, came closer to the source material but still managed to butcher beloved characters—looking at you, Leon Kennedy. Now, Zach Cregger, the twisted mind behind Barbarian, has stepped up with his third feature, simply titled Resident Evil. And while it's not a direct adaptation, it's the film that gamers have been waiting for. Cregger, a longtime fan of the franchise, infuses every frame with deep-cut references that reward those who've spent hours navigating Raccoon City's zombie-infested streets. The result is a Rotten Tomatoes–fresh thrill ride that finally respects the games. Here are six easter eggs that only true fans will catch.
1. The typewriter: a save point in the chaos
In the games, the typewriter is a sacred object—a rare moment of peace where you can save your progress and catch your breath. Cregger's film honors that tradition when Bryan (Austin Abrams) stumbles upon a farmhouse on the snowy road to Raccoon City. For a moment, the movie lulls you into thinking he's safe. Then he opens a door to a perfectly symmetrical room with a gleaming typewriter at its center. It's a brilliant nod to the save rooms that every player knows and loves, offering a fleeting sense of security before all hell breaks loose.
2. The green herb: a blink-and-you'll-miss-it lifesaver
Healing is scarce in survival horror, so the sight of a green herb is pure serotonin for any Resident Evil veteran. Bryan doesn't chomp on one in the movie, but eagle-eyed viewers will spot the familiar plant's silhouette in the backseat of a car he passes during his harrowing journey through the infected city. It's a subtle wink that doesn't distract from the main plot, but it's a delightful treat for those who know.
3. Those infuriating padlocks
Every Resident Evil game is packed with puzzles, and the most iconic are the intricate locks that require specific keys. Why would a police station need such elaborate security? Who cares—it's part of the charm. In Cregger's film, Bryan encounters these padlocks and grows increasingly frustrated, just like a player. The best in-joke comes when he totals a vehicle trying to smash through a locked gate, only to find the key nearby. It's a perfect send-up of the game's tendency to hide keys in the most inconvenient places.
4. The voice memo that seals his fate
Early on, it becomes clear that Cregger's Resident Evil won't follow typical horror rules. Bryan, bitten and hopeless, records a voice memo to his girlfriend, Michelle, in a parking garage. In the games, these audio logs are scattered throughout, painting a picture of the outbreak's victims. By recording his own, Bryan essentially becomes one of those tragic casualties—a haunting foreshadowing of his grisly end.
5. Finally, video game–worthy final bosses
Past Resident Evil movies felt like generic zombie flicks, but Cregger cracks the code by replicating the games' unsettling visual aesthetic. The infected, mutated by the T-virus, take on grotesque forms—most notably giant monsters with bulging eyes where they shouldn't be. These are the iconic visuals from Resident Evil 2, like William Birkin's horrifying transformation. Bryan first encounters a rat-king infected, but as he nears Raccoon City, he faces tentacled creatures that would feel right at home in any Resident Evil game.
6. The Umbrella Corporation: always the root of evil
If there's a T-virus outbreak, you can bet Umbrella Corporation is behind it. Cregger's film leans into this with dark humor, showing the company experimenting to evolve humankind—only for the experiment to escape, as always. It's a familiar beat from the less celebrated movies, but here it's played to comic effect, reminding us that Umbrella's incompetence is the gift that keeps on giving.
Cregger's Resident Evil isn't just a movie; it's a love letter to the games. And for those who've been burned before, it's a welcome change. As Cregger himself never watched a Resident Evil movie before directing the reboot, his fresh perspective paid off. The film finally gets the video game experience right, and these easter eggs prove it.
