In Zach Cregger’s reboot of the Resident Evil franchise, a character appears capable of killing the zombies unleashed on Raccoon city. Appearing halfway into the film, I finally settled into my seat – taking comfort in the fact that the Milla Jovovich version of the film was about to begin. Designed as a shooting videogame in 1990s Japan, the film franchise gained notoriety for its genre thrills and Jovovich’s elaborate action set-pieces, which only got bigger, more intricate with the success of each film. But true to Cregger’s ability to pull the rug from underneath us, in the eighth film of the franchise, the action hero character unceremoniously disappears. Another well-known face, who you imagine will stick around for longer in the film, is taken out. In Zach Cregger’s apocalypse, there are no saviours. 

Cregger’s film is the closest simulation of a videogame, especially in the manner it feels intuitive. What would I do? – is something I found myself thinking. Medical courier, Bryan (Austin Abrams) shows up at a hospital with a delivery, noticing busier than usual activity. About to clock out of his shift, the hospital offers him a ‘Schedule A’ delivery (which pays the most) to be........

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