#598 - Resident Evil (2026)

Straight Chilling: Horror Movie Review

The Straight Chilling crew reviews the 2026 Resident Evil film directed by Zach Cregger. The hosts debate the effectiveness of the movie's h

Key takeaways

• The film is viewed as a side story set during the events of the second Resident Evil game.
• Zach Cregger's horror direction and cinematography, particularly the snow/window scene, received praise.

Main topics

• Resident Evil (2026) film review
• Zach Cregger's directing style

Notable quotes

The horror is great... I just don't think I vibe with this guy's comedy.

Conclusion

A polarizing review that highlights the difficulty of balancing humor

Transcript preview

Speaker 4 (0:48) What up, nerds, and welcome to another residentially evil episode of Straight Chilling, the weekly horror movie review show where you chill and we kill, slice, dice, and shop up yet another horror movie. My name is Bob. I'll be your host for the evening. This is episode number 598, recorded on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026. Tonight, we're talking about Resident Evil, the brand new one from 2026. Before we get into it... Let me introduce everyone else on the show tonight. First up, calling in from Washington, D.C., we got your boy, Rand Diesel. What's up, man? Speaker 3 (1:23) What are you selling? What are you selling, Bob? What's going on? You ready to talk about residential evils? Yes. Speaker 4 (1:30) You Speaker 3 (1:31) know. Speaker 4 (1:32) I am so ready to discuss it. Speaker 3 (1:37) Yep. Speaker 4 (1:38) Speaking of evil motherfuckers, last but not least, calling in from Seoul, South Korea, we got your boy, Soju. What's up? Speaker 1 (1:48) Oh, what up? It's your boy Soju the Stranger. Stranger Danger, boys. Here we go. Stranger. Stranger. Yep, Soju the Stranger. Extra Speaker 4 (2:03) gusto on that second one. Stranger. Stranger. Speaker 1 (2:07) So Speaker 4 (2:08) fucking strange. Speaker 3 (2:10) God. If a little extra gusto is the worst you get out of a Resident Evil voice. Voice recording, you've done pretty well, I think. Real Speaker 4 (2:19) fucking strange, let me tell you. Yeah. Boys, did you know that the, other than this one, the most recent Resident Evil movie came out five years ago? Speaker 1 (2:31) Oh, no. I thought there was an animated one or something that came out last year. Speaker 4 (2:36) I don't Speaker 1 (2:36) know. Speaker 4 (2:38) Well, fuck me. Maybe Speaker 1 (2:39) there's a million of them that came out. Speaker 4 (2:42) Welcome to Raccoon City is the one I was... It's a live action movie that came out in 2021. I think there was like a Netflix show. Maybe there was animated shit too. I don't know. But like theatrical release, I believe, was five years ago. I feel like I Speaker 1 (2:54) remember Wes bitching about it or something on the Speaker 4 (2:57) set. Speaker 1 (2:57) Shout out. Speaker 4 (2:58) Wes was not about it. Speaker 3 (3:00) He's a big, lazy guy. So shout out to Wes. Hopefully this does better for you. I think he posted about this too. Speaker 4 (3:05) Yeah. Happy birthday, Wes, by the way. We're recording. on your birthday. First day of fall. That's right. Speaker 3 (3:10) Happy birthday. Happy birthday, my guy. Speaker 4 (3:12) Residential birthday. Hope you liked this one better than the last couple or whatever. Speaker 1 (3:17) Got a lot of September birthdays. Wasn't last week Nate's birthday too? Speaker 4 (3:20) Yeah. We do have a lot of September birthdays. Speaker 1 (3:23) Nate, Speaker 4 (3:23) Brandon, Michael, triple feature birthday all on the same day. A lot of New Year's banging. Speaker 1 (3:28) Fans of Speaker 4 (3:28) this podcast are one of the signs of the up-to-zodiac, as I understand. Everybody's just getting down. All that New Year's Speaker 1 (3:34) banging. That's what it is. Speaker 4 (3:36) All Speaker 3 (3:36) them balls speed Speaker 4 (3:36) dropping, you know? Speaker 1 (3:38) Yes, I know. Speaker 4 (3:40) Do you know? Yeah, we're talking Resident Evil before we get into it. Come Speaker 2 (3:45) back anytime. Speaker 4 (3:47) Let's tackle a little bit of housekeeping real quick. Here is another reminder. Our big, gigantic mystery triple feature poll is currently posted over on our Patreon website. If you guys support us at the $5 level or above, you get the chance to vote on three movies we're talking about this October. So you're voting on theme alone for the month of October. The three hosts of the show, we've all programmed mystery triple features. Whichever theme wins, we will then tell you what three movies we're talking about. So the themes you're voting on this month are Dipshits vs. Demons. Field of Screams and Sick Psychos. Speaker 1 (4:23) Whoa, Bob, heading into the last week of September. Damn, boys, it's just flying by. It is. How Speaker 2 (4:31) are Speaker 1 (4:31) those numbers looking, Bob? Speaker 4 (4:34) I'm like holding on to every second of every day with everything I have. Like, slow down for the love of God. Slow down. The numbers. You don't know how healthy that is. Man. I'm trying. It's not really working, but I'm trying. The numbers have changed slightly. So in last place, we got a tie between Dipshits vs. Demons and Six Psychos, both sitting at 29%. And then on top of the heap, Field of Screams with 41 % of the vote. Speaker 1 (5:02) Whoa, I saw someone was adjusting their movies this morning. Oh, okay. Nobody can hold it down like Halloween King Soju over here. Nobody can hold it Speaker 2 (5:14) down. Speaker 1 (5:17) Soju's the only straight shooter around here, I guess. Speaker 4 (5:21) That's how people describe you. A real straight shooter, that guy. Yeah. A real straight shooter with the female perspective. Speaker 1 (5:30) Oh, yeah. Speaker 4 (5:33) Nothing weird about that guy. Real straight shooter. Speaker 1 (5:37) Now, Bob, I will say this is the last week of our investigation, so we will be showing our findings next week to see. And that means that we have just one more question for you to put into our investigation before we start to wrap things up. So, Bob. What are you buying? Which one of these would you say would describe you the most? Either A. Mostly guilty. B, somewhat guilty. C, often guilty. Or D, 100 % guilty. Which one do you think describes you the most there? Speaker 4 (6:19) So this is in the court of Soju, you're guilty until proven innocent. Well, I Speaker 1 (6:25) just want to see how you see yourself in this situation, Bob. We are investigating whether these polls have been legit this year with all the cabal activity that you've been involved Speaker 4 (6:37) in. Speaker 1 (6:37) The tampering, Speaker 4 (6:38) the poll tampering. Yeah, Speaker 1 (6:39) we definitely know it Speaker 2 (6:41) happened Speaker 1 (6:43) on the Twilight poll. So we know for sure we got that locked out. And that's what opened this whole investigation. I got a bunch of bots. We got her Speaker 3 (6:51) up. Russian Bob Mueller on this one. So, you know, don't try and worm your way out of this. My boy, Bobby. Speaker 1 (6:58) I noticed you're resisting answering the question, Bob. So I'll go ahead and put that down in the investigation. And Speaker 3 (7:04) Justin knows Justin is very aware when people are resisting. He is very cognizant of that. I plead the 69th. Speaker 1 (7:13) I see. We'll show the findings next week. I can't wait to see the Speaker 4 (7:20) findings. Speaker 1 (7:21) I know. Show me. I want you to study that Speaker 4 (7:24) motherfucker. I'm going to study the findings. All right. Get those votes in. You got a little over a week before the end of September, and then we're on to October and our big gigantic triple feature. Wake me up when it happens. Never. In other Patreon news, we're dropping minicasts every other Friday. We got one up there for you right now. Over your dead body, you can slam that into your ear holes. Your boy Bob's talking about that. Next up, this Friday, the 25th, also dropping, we got a minicast on Exit 8. Also from your boy me. Talking about that. Whoa, Bob, Speaker 1 (7:59) you be talking this month. Yeah, that was a Japanese film that came out. A little liminal space video game. Oh, liminal. We got another video game movie, boys. Yeah. Speaker 3 (8:11) The video game movies and the creepypasta movies is what it's all about this season. When Speaker 1 (8:16) are we going to see the back rooms game, boys? That's what we need next. We need the back rooms game, boys. Speaker 3 (8:23) There are just so many of those. Oh, really? Speaker 1 (8:26) Yeah. Speaker 4 (8:28) Uncle soju. There Speaker 1 (8:31) you go. Speaker 4 (8:32) Yeah, exit eight. Check that out if you are intrigued by that film. I think you can watch it on VOD. It's also on Blu-ray. Worth checking out, though. Solid film, I think. So, yeah, check out my thoughts on that. Also, we are currently soliciting for voicemails for episode 600, which, if you're keeping count, is in two weeks. Just two weeks away, which is insane. Speaker 1 (8:56) Two weeks, boys. Oh, my God. Goddamn. So, if you want to call in and show us some love. Speaker 4 (9:01) We've got to do something for that. or tell us to go fuck ourselves, or say whatever you want. Just whatever you want. 904. If Speaker 3 (9:07) you want to tell us to go fuck ourselves, save it for Spotify comments, please. That's where that belongs. That's where it Speaker 1 (9:12) belongs. Speaker 3 (9:13) And the ratings, too. Make sure you give us a ton Speaker 1 (9:17) of Speaker 3 (9:17) bad ratings. Good ratings. Nobody cares about a Spotify rating. Good Speaker 4 (9:21) ratings and reviews, please. We love to see them, and we appreciate you. It helps people find the show. Speaker 1 (9:28) We're barely staying afloat here. Come on. We need some support. We gauge ourselves here, Kyle. Speaker 3 (9:32) Golf Speaker 4 (9:33) rules. So the lower the number, the better. So hit Speaker 3 (9:36) us with the Speaker 4 (9:36) one Speaker 3 (9:36) stars. Speaker 4 (9:38) Yeah. Call in voicemails 904-638-3231 for episode 600. Last thing I got here, I just want to drop another reminder that I was fortunate enough to be featured on Friend of the Show Nicole's podcast, Light and Shadow, talking about a great little movie called Skeleton Key. Check that out. Light and Shadow everywhere you get your podcasts. Do you guys have anything else you need to plug? Speaker 4 (10:01) I got nothing, my guy. My house is Speaker 1 (10:03) clean this week. Speaker 4 (10:04) How squeaky are you? Well, last thing, last order of business. Oh, yes, of course. We got to hear from our good friend, sexy Dracula. Speaker 3 (10:14) How could I forget our arousing friend? Speaker 2 (10:23) It's me. Sixth Dracula! And I'm here to tell you the sexiest news you heard this Halloween season. The state chilling crew shall return for their sixth annual chilloween party on Friday, October 30th at 9pm Eastern Standard Time! Oh, yes, there will be a surprise film screening with commentary and drinking game, horror trivia, and, of course, a costume contest. All you have to do is sign up on Patreon at any level, and you're invited to the sexiest party of your life. Speaker 1 (11:08) Mark Speaker 2 (11:09) your calendars for Friday, October Speaker 4 (11:12) 30th at Speaker 2 (11:13) 9 p.m. Speaker 3 (11:18) And don't forget, stay sexy and Speaker 2 (11:23) keep chilling. Speaker 3 (11:34) I hope you guys are coming ready for your costume contest. Yeah, we're going to allow that. Costume contest. I Speaker 1 (11:40) was thinking to myself, has anyone actually ever seen this man? Are we so sure that he's sexy? I mean, I've never seen him myself. You can't handle sexy Speaker 3 (11:51) based on audio. Then you've never heard Wolfman Jack. That's all I'm saying. Speaker 4 (11:57) Get with it, Juice. What are you Speaker 3 (11:59) even talking about? Get Speaker 4 (12:01) with Speaker 3 (12:01) it from the city. We'll Speaker 4 (12:02) have to open up another investigation and we'll see what the findings have to show. I don't know. Speaker 1 (12:08) I think this man might be one of us. And that's true. Sexy. I don't know if that's the way I would describe him. Speaker 4 (12:17) Well. Speaker 1 (12:18) Might be false advertising there. Speaker 4 (12:21) You know what they say. Fuck you. I think this house is... That is clean? Sure. Speaker 1 (12:30) Our Speaker 3 (12:34) hearts are otherwise not clean, I would say. Quite filthy. My heart Speaker 1 (12:40) is not clean. Speaker 4 (12:44) It's full of cholesterol. Let's get into the main event. We're talking about Resident Evil, and we're kicking it off with the back of the box. Speaker 2 (12:53) What's on the back of the box? Speaker 1 (13:00) Bob, you gonna order this box? What about the old Resident Evils? How many of these you got? You got the old box set? What you got? How many Speaker 3 (13:07) copies of Resident Evil 4 do you have? Because there are several editions. Speaker 4 (13:11) I only have this Welcome to Raccoon City movie. That's the only one. Speaker 1 (13:15) That's the only one, huh? Speaker 4 (13:17) Yep. Speaker 1 (13:17) Damn. Speaker 4 (13:18) That's Speaker 1 (13:19) it. Wow. You're missing a lot of blues. I thought you Speaker 3 (13:21) were a, I thought you were a resident evil franchise. You're all Speaker 4 (13:25) wrong. You're both wrong about everything. I was Speaker 3 (13:29) aiming Speaker 4 (13:29) at, Speaker 3 (13:30) I, I thought you watched, I thought you were a fan of like the first one at least, or like the Mila Jovovich ones. No. Yeah. I have Speaker 4 (13:37) like some nostalgia regarding the first one, but. I think I only saw the first two of them. I fell off pretty quick because I thought they were bad, honestly. There's a lot of them. I thought they were bad. Speaker 3 (13:50) What a minority opinion that is. Not takes, Speaker 4 (13:53) everyone. I know. You heard it here first, clearly. Not great. But yeah, this Resident Evil, I'm pretty sure you can pre-order this on Blu-ray already if you want to do that. Blu-ray and 4K. Brand new movie still in theaters at the time of us recording this show. This is rated R with a runtime of one hour and 34 minutes. This was written and directed by Zach Kreger from Barbarian and Weapons fame. Stars Austin Abrams from Weapons fame as well. Zach Cherry, Callie Race, Paul Walter Hauser is up in this. Will Merrick. Some other lovely folks. Plot synopsis brought to you by IMDb is as follows. A hapless courier is tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital. He soon finds himself caught in the middle of an outbreak and must fight through hordes of mutated creatures to survive. Gentlemen, first time watch for all of us. Would you recommend the folks at home check out Resident Evil, Rand Diesel? Kick us off. Speaker 3 (14:58) Yeah. Yeah, I think this is worth checking out. I think this is the time of year where it makes sense to spend more time checking out horror movies at the theater, and I think this is a decent one to spend your time on. Speaker 4 (15:10) Sounds like... Short and sweet. Yeah. A yeah from Rand Evil. Sounds like Speaker 3 (15:15) a Speaker 4 (15:15) yarp. So, Jeevil, what about you? Speaker 1 (15:20) uh yes i would recommend people check this out especially in the theater um it's spooky season and this was a really fun theater watch even i got some stories to tell but even in korea people were reacting i know which is Not typically the case. Speaker 3 (15:36) People in Korea are famously stoic as shit. They react to theater. Speaker 1 (15:41) They respect the space. Yeah, Speaker 3 (15:44) yeah, yeah, yeah. They're repressed. That's what you're saying. I understand. You Speaker 1 (15:47) don't have to eat around the bush like that. You're a racist over here. Damn. Speaker 3 (15:52) You Speaker 1 (15:53) know me. I do. That's why I'm writing your biography. Unofficial Speaker 3 (15:59) autobiography is going to be very forgiving, I'm sure. Randy was a Speaker 1 (16:04) known racist is how it's gonna start Speaker 3 (16:06) no first line self-proclaimed first line actually very proud really just not shy about it hated koreans Speaker 1 (16:17) a lot um but anyways yes i would recommend people check this out bob how about you would you recommend people check this out it's Speaker 4 (16:26) a medium to lose for me i think uh that's your smash bob It is a decent enough sit, but I don't know that it's going to blow your mind, or at least it didn't to me. All right. Medium to loose recommend for me. That sounds like... Bob's the one Speaker 1 (16:43) who's repressed. Speaker 4 (16:44) Randy's over here just mashing buttons again. He is wasted. Speaker 4 (16:52) Nope, that's a mistake from when I was sober, actually. Nice try. Just got to keep drinking. Sounds like a, yeah, check it out. Yeah, check it Speaker 2 (17:02) out Speaker 4 (17:02) from the straight chilling crew. Check it out. Check it Speaker 2 (17:07) out. Yeah, Speaker 4 (17:08) all right. We're going to be spoiling the shit out of Resident Evil, and here comes your warning. Speaker 2 (17:21) Spoiler warning. Speaker 1 (17:34) Bob, did you type up that plop synopsis in the theater? Sounds like you're pretty bored. Must have had a lot of time to just write this one out in the theater, Bob. I was. Honestly, a little bored. Your little headlamp out. Oh, my God. Wow. This is going to be interesting. Speaker 2 (17:50) Jesus. Speaker 4 (17:52) It's so interesting. Speaker 1 (17:54) Bob, if only you had watched it in Korea with your boy Soju, then you would have had a good time. Speaker 4 (18:00) That's all it takes. just to bask in the glory of your boy and Speaker 1 (18:06) then you like everything um all right here we Speaker 4 (18:11) go medical courier brian agrees to take a high priority last minute package to raccoon city general hospital on the way he calls his girlfriend to discuss her recent positive pregnancy test and whether he's ready to be a father or not He runs over a woman crossing the road and loads her into his car to take her to the hospital with him. A police officer pulls him over for swerving on the icy road, loads the injured woman into his cruiser, and tells Brian to follow him. While doing so, the cruiser flips, and when Brian goes to help, he finds the woman is gone. She attacks him, and he shoots her with the police officer's gun. He then hops a fence of a nearby farm and is chased by a dog whose face turns into tentacles. He shoots it and enters the farmhouse. He finds a shotgun and shells and is attacked by the drooling zombie-like owner of the house. He shoots him and is again attacked by the woman who still is not dead. He blows her head off and the two corpses merge into a freakish limb monster that again chases Brian. He rams the locked gate with a truck, but it gets stuck and he sets out on foot. He goes through a tunnel and he has to shoot and kill a little girl with a tentacle foot who bites him in the arm. The limb monster catches up. In a car driven by Umbrella Corp employees Maxine and Paul save him. Paul explains they are a government contractor who had an accident in Raccoon City that led to an outbreak creating all these monsters. And it turns out the package Brian is carrying contains the final ingredient to the antidote they made. in the process of making. They go back to Raccoon City and Maxine and Paul are killed by monsters. Brian escapes through sewer tunnels, evading mutated rats, the limb monster yet again, and a barrage of suicidal infected jumping off the tops of buildings trying to hit him. He reaches the hospital and records a nice voice message for his girlfriend confirming he is ready to be a father. The scientists use the intercom to tell him to come up to the 28th floor and to use the stairs because the building has been compromised. He's lazy, so he takes the elevator, which is besieged by an acid-spewing monster