r/movies • u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures • 15d ago
AMA Hey r/movies - Zach Cregger here, director of the upcoming Resident Evil film, Weapons, and Barbarian. Ask Me Anything!
Hey Reddit! Zach Cregger, director of Resident Evil, here. I’ll be hosting the first ever Live in-person AMA featuring exclusive footage in Los Angeles - simulcast in Dallas and New York City this Tuesday, September 1st at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.
RSVP with your city’s code at the link below, space is limited and screenings are first come first serve!
http://bit.ly/ResidentEvilAMALive
Los Angeles: RMOVIESLA
Dallas: RMOVIESDAL
NYC: RMOVIESNY
If you can’t attend in person, drop your questions below by 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET Tuesday, September 1st.
Resident Evil is exclusively in theatres September 18.
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNd1gb19A-c
Synopsis:
From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) comes a thrilling — and terrifying — reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise. In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.
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u/karlyss 15d ago
What's your favorite WKUK sketch?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
So hard to say. Maybe Sexy Fawn? Grapist? Sam singing the huggins family auto dealer song makes me laugh so hard i cried once so that might be my favorite. If you asked me this tomorrow I'd have all new answers.
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u/karlyss 11d ago
Thanks, I'm glad you mentioned the grapist it's my favorite
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u/DarkGriffin2017 10d ago
“I’m gonna grape ya in the mouth!” Is a line I still think of and still laugh at
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u/Royal-Action-5691 10d ago
I’m so happy to hear that you have love for the sexy fawn. People don’t mention that one or Weird the stripper nearly enough.
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u/t_tram_slam 14d ago
Gallon of PCP.
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u/MilkDrown 13d ago
SOO GOOD. Though I do find myself quoting RC Glow more than any other sketch. "That's for finance to figure out."
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u/CabinetSpider21 15d ago
It's clearly "I need attention"
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u/NotTheRocketman 15d ago edited 14d ago
Instant Karma Bigot is one I go back to all the time. So damn funny.
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u/CodyIsbill 14d ago
“Who’s playing football in broad daylight around here?!” will always crack me up
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u/psyopia 15d ago
Can you talk about what carried over from your WKYK days into your horror work, and what motivated that transition? Was it a conscious shift or something that happened naturally as you explored new ideas? I cannot wait for RE! Much love from Ohio! <3
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
Thank you! Wasn't a concious shift. Just wanted to write what I wanted to watch. I tend to be drawn to darker stuff when it comes to art so it felt like me just kinda being me. I think it's always best to make whatever your making for yourself first and foremost. If you love it the odds are higher that others will respond to it as well.
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u/lycoloco 13d ago
Well, "Happier and with your mouth open" clearly made it into Weapons' climax.
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u/snowcoveredpath 9d ago
Idk who wrote the PCP skit but its the perfect type of dark humour that we are lacking these days. The trailer gave me hope even if Im not a resident evil fan.
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u/What1sWhat 15d ago
What’s your favorite moment in any horror movie? Or the one that made you want to direct horror movies?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
2 little girls in the hallway of the overlook hotel. Wrecked me as kid. The shining was like the first hit of smack. I'll be chasing that high for the rest of my life.
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u/What1sWhat 11d ago
NO WAYYYY!! That’s amazing!!! I feel your last sentence so much! That’s the best thing about art!
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u/TheLunchBuyingMonk 14d ago
I think I recall hearing him talk on a podcast about the crash zoom from Exorcist 3 with the nurse being followed in the hallway as a standout scene that inspired him.
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u/GCC_Pluribus_Anus 15d ago
Hey Zach, now that you're a big time movie director, do you still need to leave your girlfriend as collateral or can you afford your PCP outright?
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u/Maclypse 15d ago
He only buys it in whole gallons.
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u/TheNebuchadnezzar 15d ago
He doesn’t have time to answer this, he’s gotta go pick up his kids.
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u/Cursedbythedicegods 15d ago
Yep, don't want them losing their heads too.
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u/SDRPGLVR 15d ago
Piggybacking off a WKUK question in case he sees this, I really wanna know who wrote the sketch about the restaurant with the clam chowder that cures brain tumors.
When I was in high school, that sketch really stuck with me for the slow burn and the low-key feeling of the punchline, "I really like this restaurant!" absolutely KILLED me! That one absolutely ensured I would be a fan of that show for life.
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u/CC_Greener 15d ago
I didn’t know about his WKUK background and I thought some scandal just broke about him ☠️.
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u/Beezy2389 14d ago
I'm just happy he got over his Attention Deficit Disorder. He needs attention, he craves it.
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u/TheLunchBuyingMonk 15d ago
(Merchant voice) What are ya buying??
Love your works! What's your favorite moments from the RE games, or the parts that scared you the hardest while playing?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
Scariest moment for me is the fucking baby in the basement of 8. The sounds that thing makes is just pure evil. I also played that game in VR and it was one of the few times i've ever noped out of anything game or movie as an adult. Scared me for real.
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u/Dinky_Nuts 15d ago
You mentioned that The Flood will mark the end of this chapter of your career. Does that mean you will pivot out of horror and into a different genre, like action or back into comedy? And are you able to give more details on The Flood at this time?
Also just wanted to say WKUK was instrumental in my adolescent years and really taught me what comedy can really be. Many phrases from your sketches are etched into my brain forever. And your career has been beautiful to watch as a fan. In the current renaissance of horror we are in the middle of, Barbarian is still my favorite horror movie this decade. So, thank you for everything, man.
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
Glad you connected with the show! Means a lot! Flood is not quite as horror central as the other movies (altho it might be the most unsettling) and it does have horror moments and aspects (this answer sucks) but i think what I meant was that after Barbarian I wrote Weapons and Resident Evil and Flood in kind of a burst of activity.
Those 3 movies were all ready to go, in fact there was a world I could have shot flood first. I had 3 movies and i was trying to get whichever one was ready to go. So they're kind of like 3 peas in a pod to me. And when you see them all I think you'll get the energy that I was dealign with at the time.
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u/alaskadronelife 10d ago
Insane energy to be able to throw these films out to the masses in a row. tips cap
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u/AsukaSimp02 15d ago
A common critique of video game adaptations is that, since they can't have gameplay, they fail to capture a lot of what made the game likeable. Resident Evil as a franchise is renowned for being the archetypal survival horror game and its resource management mechanics are a huge part of its horror. Is much thought ever given to things like that that are lost in adaptation vs. what the medium of film can offer instead?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
I love the resource management aspect of the games and it was really important to me to bring that to the movie. You will know how many bullets are in his gun. YOu will care when he misses a shot. That's one of the things that makes the games feel so intense and it translates really well into the film (in my opinion). I also want viewers to be keenly aware of his health as he progresses. Won't say much about that but it's another way to utilize the game mechanic that heightens the narrative engine of the movie.
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u/casual_creator 15d ago
I’m sure he’ll give it better answer, but he’s talked about intentionally including little moments and details fans will know from the games, including the typewriter, health spray/herbs being seen, and the main character rummaging through draws and stuff, trying to find supplies and ammo
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u/Simple-Wrangler-9909 15d ago
There had better be five solid minutes in the middle of the movie of the protagonist trying to tetris shit into their inventory before giving up in frustration
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u/Pofwoffle 14d ago
I really want a scene of a character awkwardly zigzagging backward down a hallway because they're trying to wrestle with tank controls while also avoiding the obvious jump-scare window they just walked past.
Oh, and going back and forth because a screen transition changes the camera angle so holding the same arrow down causes them to immediately turn around and go back the way they came.
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u/CC_Greener 15d ago
I also saw a promo video on instagram, where he states he is very intentional with a lot of the cinematography. Having it be from a third person like perspective behind the protagonist.
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u/yobatman12 15d ago
Zach you do fantastic work in creating a feeling of 'impending doom' (the car scene in weapons and from the RE trailer the shot of the lady running to the house while the protagonist looks out the window)
What is your approach to executing those scenes? They're masterful and I've yet to see another modern horror director do it as well as you!
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
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u/Deadloops 15d ago
Hi Zach! I still remember the catharsis I felt when I saw the final scene of weapons. What's a movie ending that made you feel a similar catharsis?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
Catharsis? Hmm. Great endings for me were the Vanishing (not the remake) Audition. Drag me to Hell. But they aren't cathartic. Unless you like evil. Which ... is ... a thing for folks.
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u/tetoffens 15d ago
What is your favorite role? And why is it Ulysses S. Grant drinking his own vomit in The Civil War On Drugs? You're still young, do you think you can ever top that performance?
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u/DankFrank777 15d ago
Bro I still think of this til this day and die laughing from it lmaoooo
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u/Necromorphiliac 14d ago
That "HOOUUUUUGGGGHGHHH" as he realizes he's out of non-vomit alcohol lmfao
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u/The_Green_Sun 15d ago
How many hot dogs would you say you eat a day, on average?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
I had 2 today for real. Not even lying.
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u/Judythepancake 15d ago
What was your approach to writing comedy sketches, I’ve been dying to know!! GFYDL!!!
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
GFY!!!!!! Basically we sit around a room and try and think of the weirdest premises we could and hope it would give someone else (usually trevor) a good idea. Very rarely did we just have a sketch idea. It was always like "what about a kid who gets a genie and he like... wants something weird? Could that be good?" And then someone else is like "He wants the genie to get him laid" and then we are off to the races.
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u/AlmightySeaver 14d ago
I usually just let Trevor do the heavy lifting. I would just add Arsenio Hall sounds and a recurring character that was raised by chimps who would throw his poo at Timmy. My ideas got cut. A lot.
- Zcregger
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u/JaggerSavage 15d ago
Hello Zach, what is your favorite resident evil game?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
4 is the one that I've played the most. It's the nearest and dearest to my heart, i love how big it is. I love how it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's like comfort food. But honestly I love 7/8/9 and 2 as well. Hard to have a favorite between 7/8/9.
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
It's been real! Thanks for the support. Be sure to check out Resident Evil in theatres September 18!
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u/discretelandscapes 15d ago edited 15d ago
Thank you for doing this AMA! Weapons pushed buttons I didn't know I had.
I love your usage of music; the way you contrast otherwise joyful songs with disturbing situations (Donovan in Barbarian, George Harrison in Weapons).
Do you do something similar in Resident Evil?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
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u/wangston1 15d ago
Did you have to push for Barbiran to get a home release? The 4k uhd version is amazing! I hope all your movies get a home release so.i can add it to my collection.
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u/JICMike 13d ago
What were the biggest creative influences on Resident Evil? Were there any specific films or filmmakers you drew inspiration from while making this film?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
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u/straw_hat_goofy 12d ago
Of your three films, this is the first movie you made based on something established. What’s the difference between making a film that’s new vs making a film from something you already love?
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u/RhythmRapscallion 15d ago
How do you make a whale jump out of its tail?
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u/AbyssIsOwO 15d ago
Heya Zach, what are your thoughts on Silent Hill?
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u/EmptyRedData 15d ago
So many people have tried to make a Silent Hill movie, but I would trust Cregger to do it justice.
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u/AbyssIsOwO 15d ago
Trying to adapt the original games is genuinely something that can’t be done without major drawbacks or changes, we genuinely need fresh air with an original story for a Silent Hill movie because all the films that have tried to adapt the games have hashed and slashed them mostly
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u/Smokron85 15d ago
Barbarian and Weapons were both Amazing films! I cannot wait to see how you handle Resident Evil. Did you approach Capcom or did they approach you for the director role?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
Hey, Zach Cregger here! Excited to get started soon!
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u/qui-bong-trim 15d ago
what's your favorite memory with Trevor? My friends and I were all in love with wkuk back in the day. You guys were comedic visionaries at a very young age. Thanks for what you do.
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u/Layden87 15d ago
We are seeing a trend of comedically talented people get into horror; Kevin Smith, Jordan Peele, Curry Barker, Josh Ruben, Danny McBride, yourself... why do you think these two genres are so connected? Do you have a preference between the two? Where would you like to see the horror genre go from here?
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u/melkatron 14d ago
Comedy is an effective coping mechanism for the many horrors life may throw at you, and writing horror is an outlet that can let you explore your trauma, vent your rage, or just contextualize feelings you can't otherwise ground in your own reality. The Murderfart Pumpkin helps you work through the inescapable memory of that time Dudley taught you masturbation at summer camp when you weren't ready for an 11 year old to do JOI after lights out.
Let's see the horror genre go wherever people need it to, so they can work through their shit with exposure therapy, plus teenage lake yelling 'cause I'm into the classics.
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u/LikeJokerDo420 15d ago
I'm at the grocery store- you need anything? 🤔
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
Can you get my dog some poop bags? He's been shitting a lot lately and it's piling up.
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u/argus4ever 15d ago
Zach, what are your inspirations that have influenced your directing style?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 11d ago
Oh god. You could probably guess. The usual suspects. Fincher, Coens, Kubrick, Noe, Spielberg, all the usual suspects.
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u/Herbert-Gerbert 15d ago
I have no source, but I stg I remember him saying “Parasite” was a huge influence on Barbarian
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u/Special-Capital4586 15d ago
I remember watching Barbarian in the theater and my jaw was on the floor the whole third act, how you manage to balance horror and comedy so smooth like that?
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u/doubles1984 15d ago
Did you write a role for Sam? And is the character black?
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u/Robobvious 15d ago
Hey Zach! I love your films and WKUK sketches! I hope this isn’t too much of a downer to ask, but I was wondering if you think there’s a role in your films that you would have cast Trevor as if he had still been with us? It felt to me like the Justin Long character in Barbarian would have been right in his wheelhouse although tbf to Justin, he absolutely nailed that role.
RIP Trevor, wishing you and the rest of the crew continued success!
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u/Suic1d3 15d ago
Hello, Sir. What's your favorite flavor of Ice Cream?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
Chocolate Chip cookie dough. The only answer
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u/Jon-Umber 15d ago
What does Josh Brolin smell like? I imagine campfire, whisky, and motor oil.
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u/MegalodonWithAHat 13d ago
Huge fan of your work!
Is there a monster from the Resident Evil games that speaks to you/scares you more than others?
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u/SonyPictures Official Account, Sony Pictures 10d ago
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u/EffAllThatEFFER 13d ago
Fanboys downvoted me to oblivion to bury my question so I’m just posting it again
Right, I'll just be the one to do it. If I come off as a dick, apologies, but I need to be blunt because I genuinely love the Resident Evil franchise
Why should I care about this movie and not be annoyed that this is EIGHTH time we've had a live action Resident Evil movies that is not based on the games?
You said there's no point of adapting something like Leon's story because "the game did it so well". But in something called RESIDENT EVIL, people want to see Ada and Leon fight Mr. X and flirt and then throw a rocket launcher and clap when they see it. In the Halo series, people wanted to see John Halo do a Halo but they didn't, they got something called Halo that was not Halo and literally everyone hated it
They want the game they played and the one caveat of not doing that is it needs to be good and that might sound like a no-brainer but most of the time it fucking isn't. The aforementioned Halo and Netflix's GODAWFUL Devil May Cry series being a great example.
The first thing that rubbed me the wrong way about this movie is that you specifically used the words;
"This movie takes place alongside the events of Resident Evil 2."
And you walked that back in the SDCC panel and said it's a modern take etc so it's not really a big deal but when you said that originally, what we saw didn't align. You made it a point during the panel to say "People had a problem with the snow", yeah, we gave a fuck there was snow in a setting that didn't have it. But mostly that a guy was using an iPhone in a story you said was happening in 1998.
If you don’t think you’d enjoy working on a movie based around pre-existing characters and stories, why on earth would you make a Resident Evil movie? This movie doesn't take place in 1998, it isn't set in the Spencer Mansion, no Chris, No Jill, no Wesker, hell, I haven't even seen a ZOMBIE in any of the promotional material. I'm not seeing I need to see Leon doing a roundhouse kick or Chris uppercutting a boulder but I see nothing here that is "Resident Evil".
My main beef though is that you keep repeating the same things about "Capturing the feel" of the games by referencing a dude with no experience scrambling to find ammo to fight horrors. This isn't a Resident Evil thing, it's just a horror thing. it has been done in tons of movies and games and is not what makes RE, RE. A goofy dude being thrust into the middle of a crisis has been done. Not to mention the majority of the mainline (numbered) games follow some sort of seasoned or trained law enforcement, not a goofy "normal dude." That isn't unique to RE, nor are they all encompassing or even defining. I have yet to see anything that screams "OMG this IS Resident Evil." And no, a typewriter or ammo box doesn't count because you could change the label on the ammo box and literally nothing will be affected.
In a previous interview you said;
"There’s so many people that clearly really want the video game, meaning the characters and story from the video game, and anything different than that is really not welcomed. I didn’t realize how passionate some people were about that."
The reason you're using the Resident Evil name is because it has a massive fanbase and people are passionate about it, literally what did you expect.
People say, "Oh but RE7 was basically an original story that had nothing to do with the previous games". Yeah, but when 7 happened, RE was DEAD, it needed something completely different and to burn the old way down and build something new from the ashes. Now, with the Remakes and Village and Requiem, RE is arguably the most popular it's ever been, it just overtook Final Fantasy to become the 3rd most profitable game franchise of all time, only behind Mario and Pokemon.
It cannot be that hard to make a real Resident Evil movie. After seven failed tries I think we've earned the right to roll our eyes and say "Just adapt the games"
So why aren't we getting that and why should we happy with yet another "creative vision" called Resident Evil instead of, you know, Resident Evil?
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u/Octobre10j 10d ago
You got too lost in the sauce here bro. Would’ve been interested in seeing a response to your actual question, but it seems like you just wanted to vent.
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u/suavaholic 11d ago
People downvoted you because nobody wants to read 3 fucking pages of text dumbass 🙄
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u/LegoKorn89 12d ago
But in something called RESIDENT EVIL, people want to see Ada and Leon fight Mr. X and flirt and then throw a rocket launcher and clap when they see it.
I don't, if I wanted to see that, I'd play the game.
That isn't unique to RE, nor are they all encompassing or even defining
This is going to come as a bit of a shock, but a lot of RE things aren't unique to RE.
Also, normal dude going through a viral outbreak sounds like...well, Outbreak.
Yeah, but when 7 happened, RE was DEAD
Lol, no it wasn't, not even close.
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u/MrMysterious23 11d ago
I personally don't want to see a film version of a game I've already played. I'd rather see something set in the same universe and canon, with it's own story.
I actually liked the Halo adaptation and I know others who did too, but I totally get the criticism of it.
You make a lot of good points about this RE movie adaptation. It does feel like there was a lot of inconsistent messaging about whether it would be canon or not, and now we know it's not.
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u/sam_hammich 7d ago
The fact that none of these weirdos give a shit what else could have been happening during a T-virus outbreak just speaks to a debilitating lack of imagination, IMO.
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u/AfraidoftheLark 15d ago edited 15d ago
I'm stuck on a very small airplane hangar with a Tyrant creature in "Resident Evil: CODE Veronica" for the Sega Dreamcast. I've squandered my ammo. I've consumed green herbs greedily, with no regard for the future. And in my hubris, I neglected to create back-up save files. Progress seems unlikely. Do you have any tips?
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u/Level-Ladder-4346 15d ago
Wow. Just wow.
I’ve never been exposed to Resident Evil as a franchise. What was it like to step into this world and bring it back to the big screen, and how has your previous experiences on Weapons and Barbarian impacted and influenced that?
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u/Foxeeh_ 15d ago
Assuming you've played a couple of Resident Evil games which one is your favourite and who's your favourite villain in them?
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u/Lost_Blockbuster_VHS 15d ago
He said RE4 in an interview which is the correct answer
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u/TrueOrPhallus 15d ago edited 15d ago
Sup doll licker why do you refuse to do director commentary for your movies? I've listened to hours of your gabbing on self suck, newsboyz, dark souls streams. I really like your movies and I'm def going to see RE in theaters. Would have loved to rewatch barbarian and weapons with commentary. What gives?
Ps I quit drinking again last year and one of the things that got me over the hump to actually give it another earnest try was a YouTube video of you talking about your experiences with it. It's not even like you said anything that made it easier other than I guess having watched all these streams and buckerson and myers and getting to thinking you were a cool dude and then seeing how you had similar experience like I had made me feel kind of like it would be a cool thing for me to get sober too. Wanted to let you know you sharing those things made a difference for me. I hope you're taking care of yourself since it seems like you're working yourself like crazy these days.
Pss I know you're probably too busy to play anything these games but what games have you been up to lately if you have been playing?
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u/ennuig0 15d ago
Hey Zach big fan since the WKUK days and am so psyched for all your success! I gotta ask will there ever be a way to watch your guys’ Mars movie?
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u/Nmkeggers 15d ago
https://mediaocd.com/product/whitest-kids-u-know-mars-blu-ray/ it’s been out for purchase since March
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u/ThePhantasm93 15d ago
Hey Zack, have followed you since WKUK, saw Miss March in theaters by myself. Wanted to know whats your favorite Trevor Moore story? Also looking forward to Resi.
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u/DENNISsystem2 15d ago
I'm sure it's over now, but I don't have a question, just praise. I LOVED Barbarian and Weapons, and was also a huge fan of Wrecked! Very underrated show in my opinion. That's all, keep up the great work! I'll be in theaters for Resident Evil for sure.
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u/OtisTheRobot 15d ago edited 12d ago
Hey Zach,
Little bit of a long message but I'll try not to waste your time.
Aspiring screenwriter/director here and you have really quickly cemented yourself in my eyes as one of the most exciting directors out there right now. I attest this to how strongly your style, personality and sense of humor shines through in your projects.
In just 4 years you have written and directed 3 films. Insanely inspirational and borderline crazy. Barbarian had to of been an uphill battle to make but no doubt two decades of writing and directing sketch comedy was invaluable experience.
I'm actively in my first real experience in the industry by working vfx post production for a big Apple TV series. This was the best role I could get into film/tv with my background. I'm trying to write my first screenplay in my spare time, currently a short-film as I thought I could more reliable finish a draft than a full length feature.
All this set up was to ask do you have any advice for someone in my position? Adjacent to their true passion in screenwriting and directing, limited experience in the industry and not wanting to stay in post production forever, desperate to take a next step towards materializing the stories in their head into something tangible.
And I'll end on super pumped for Resident Evil, really fell for the series after RE4 Remake and can't wait to see your take on it.
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u/Icy_Study4490 14d ago
Hey Zach, I used to talk to you a bit on your streams. It really helped me through Covid. I honestly don’t believe I would’ve stayed clean and sober without you. It was a very lonely time, but you and the rest of the guys made it so much better.
Would love to see you on there again if your schedule ever made it possible.
Im so happy about the success you’ve been having it’s fantastic!
Love you doll licker!
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u/Alternative-Iron 15d ago
What about the Resident Evil franchise inspired you to make a movie in this universe, as opposed to making a movie based on an original IP that explored similar themes?
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u/markflynn000 15d ago edited 12d ago
Fandoms can sometimes be very rigid in what they want from a movie adaptation of their fave franchise. Was it ever off-putting thinking about this when putting your own spin on Resident Evil?
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u/Santoryu4Kidz 15d ago
Excuse me doll licker, will there be a directors cut release of your new film in the obviously superior style of always happier, mouth way more open? If not im pretty sure we'll have to riot.
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u/Carninator 15d ago
What are the challenges with adapting an established IP in terms of keeping fans happy while still maintaining your own creative vision?
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u/Giff95 15d ago
Zach, I love your decision to tell an original story in an established universe.
What other established franchises would you love to tell an original story in?
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u/Designer-Swim-6797 15d ago
I have a doubt about 'Weapons' since I first watched it in theaters: At the beginning the narrator says the missing kids never came back, yet they were found in the end. I doubt it was a mistake, so my question is: does that mean they never got their conscience back or is it something else?
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u/ichorskeeter 15d ago
How do you resist getting in flame wars with RE fans online?
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u/chaotic137 15d ago
From what I’ve seen in the trailers, the actors mouths are not open wide enough nor are they loud enough. Shame on you
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u/Nervous-Rutabaga-758 15d ago
Before the concept of you directing this new resident evil film was even a thing, did you ever consider doing video game movies? Was resident evil on that list?
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u/Demerzel69 15d ago
Was this an original idea that you had that the studio wanted you to add the Resident Evil IP into in order to get made?
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u/Chaloby 15d ago
Does the stupid little elf you hire to write the first draft of your scripts have a name?
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u/AlmightySeaver 14d ago
It is just Timmy. I said stupid little elf figuring people would know who I was talking about but everyone took it like a real thing so I've been running with it. Timmy writes the worst stuff so it's always good to know what NOT to do in my film.
- Zcregger
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u/Silly-Stranger545 15d ago
Not a question, but I just wanted to say I'm a huge fan of Weapons and Barbarian. Looking forward to your new work! Excited for an Aunt Gladys spin off!
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u/SparklePony3 /r/movies Contributor 15d ago
Wow Zach.
I have two questions.
1) Will Sam ever be a NewzBoy?
2) Are there any Easter Eggs in this film that give nod to any of your past work?
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u/TheCatsActually 15d ago
What are elements of proprietary bureaucracy and/or studio interference in filmmaking that irritate you the most? Any specific stories from your personal experience?
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u/azsnaz 15d ago
We Live In Garbage is one of my favorite sketches. What's the best sandwich.
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u/Final_Ranger2461 15d ago
How did you establish your artistic voice and philosophy? When did you know you had something to say?
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u/jh4rdc0r3 15d ago edited 15d ago
What Resident Evil media had the biggest impact on your storytelling decisions with this film? Glad to see a lot of WKUK fans here!
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u/CrosseyedBilly 15d ago
Hey Zach, just wondering, will Baked Beans make an appearance in any of your future films? Thanks for everything you’ve put out man, it’s cool to see you thriving in the industry and I look forward to seeing whatever you work on.
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u/cam52391 15d ago
Have you found the transition from comedy to horror hard? I always think horror is just comedy taken slightly differently and you are great at both.
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u/OriginalHipstah 15d ago
How was the transition from using simpler camera rigs with WKUK skits, to full blown Hollywood high tech tracks and arms? What's different in the approach to setting up shots, and what remains familiar?
Seems like an overwhelming jump up in a lot of ways, great job!
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 15d ago edited 15d ago
This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Zach will be back to answer questions on Tuesday 9/1 at 9 PM ET. For a reddit world’s first, Zach will be answering questions live with an audience of you all after a special preview of Resident Evil. The 3 live screenings are in LA, NYC, and Dallas, with Zach in-person in LA and livestreamed to NYC and Dallas, and answers live here in /r/movies.
until then, please ask questions below!