Sony Pictures has released the second trailer for the new Resident Evil, which is set to hit theaters on September 18. The preview leans heavily into a dark atmosphere, disturbing creatures, and a much more psychological style of horror, suggesting the film could appeal to horror fans. At the same time, it has reignited a debate that has surrounded Hollywood for years: how far can an adaptation reinterpret a beloved franchise before it loses the very essence that made it unforgettable?
Since the movie has yet to be released, drawing definitive conclusions would be premature. Nevertheless, the trailer already offers enough material to discuss some creative decisions that may divide longtime fans of Capcom's iconic series.
A Great Horror Movie... But Will It Be a Great Resident Evil Adaptation?
Visually, the trailer is impressive. Its cinematography, art direction, and suspenseful pacing suggest the film could deliver a compelling horror experience.
However, several scenes seem to resemble franchises such as Silent Hill, Outlast, or even supernatural possession films far more than Capcom's universe.
The clearest example is the sequence in which arms and legs emerge through a doorway, creating a grotesque creature. It's an effective horror moment, but one that hardly evokes the biological horror, scientific experimentation, and atmosphere that made Resident Evil one of the most influential franchises in gaming history.
When the Director's Vision May Overshadow the Source Material
The director has a strong track record within the horror genre, and that experience is evident throughout the trailer. If this were an original horror franchise, there would be little reason for concern.
The discussion arises precisely because this is an adaptation. In interviews, the director himself made it clear that his intention was never to retell the events of the games.
"I'm not going to tell Leon's story. (...) I'm not going to use any of the game characters. I'm going to tell my own story that exists within the world of Resident Evil 2. You could play Resident Evil 2 and never realize that the events of my story were happening just around the corner—but they were."
Naturally, every adaptation deserves creative freedom. The concern for many fans arises when that creative freedom appears to become more important than preserving the identity of the original work.
This, however, is far from a new trend in Hollywood. Over the decades, numerous adaptations have prioritized the creative vision of their directors over the defining characteristics that made these franchises timeless classics.
A recent example is The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan. (Spoilers ahead.) Although the film received praise for its direction, one recurring criticism was the significant reduction of the gods' role in Odysseus' journey. That decision weakens the fantastical and mythical aspects that made Homer's epic an enduring masterpiece, favoring a much more grounded interpretation of the story.
The concern among some fans is that Resident Evil may follow a similar path: delivering an excellent horror movie—which, considering the franchise's cinematic history, would already be an achievement—while using the Resident Evil universe merely as a backdrop for a story that stands largely on its own.
Perhaps Easter Eggs Alone Won't Be Enough
References to the games are always appreciated by fans, but they can hardly replace the identity the franchise has built over nearly three decades.
Resident Evil is remembered for much more than its characters. Its 1998 setting, biological horror, Umbrella's experiments, the atmosphere of Raccoon City, and the constant feeling of survival define the series just as much as Leon, Jill, Chris, or Claire.
If those pillars truly take a back seat, the film may still succeed as a horror movie while struggling to satisfy those hoping for an adaptation that captures the spirit of the games. After all, small visual nods—such as the iconic typewriter, shotgun ammunition boxes, or the classic First Aid Spray—may bring a smile to longtime fans, but are a few easter eggs enough to make up for the absence of the identity that turned Resident Evil into one of the greatest video game franchises of all time?
Final Thoughts
It's still too early to judge the final result. The trailer represents only a few minutes of a movie that can truly be evaluated only when it reaches theaters on September 18.
For now, everything suggests Resident Evil could deliver a visually striking and genuinely effective horror experience. The biggest question is whether it will also capture the identity that made Capcom's franchise one of the greatest names in video game history—or whether it will be remembered as yet another case where the director's personal vision overshadowed the work that inspired the adaptation.
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