Horror fans, listen up - we are living in the best of days, and Zach Cregger is not a small part of that. You just know he had an absolute blast filming this.
Overall, this is a damn near perfect entry in the genre: crisp, lean, doesn't try and do too much, the right amount of scary, funny, and gory - authentically itself. Technically, very well shot (shoutout the rooftop scene), with standout practical effects (shoutout the behind-the-scenes videos of the arms monster). It hooks you in the first 10 minutes and brings you on a wild ride for the entire 95(!)-minute runtime. At a time when every movie seems contractually obligated to run two and a half hours, there's something refreshing about a filmmaker who knows exactly when to get in and get out.
Austin Abrams truly has the juice - has Cregger found his muse? His physical acting in this movie was spectacular.
In an era when video game content is at an all-time high, this movie feels like an authentic video game experience. I’ll admit I am not historically a Resident Evil guy, but looting shotgun shells, running out of ammo, first-person perspective, mission-focused plot development? Checks all my boxes, and builds authentic tension for those of us who have repeatedly suffered through these experiences ourselves, clutching onto a controller in a dark room several hours after our supposed bedtime.
-.5 stars for the Baron Harkonnen jumpscare in the sewer.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: Must see for all horror fans, especially those who double as video game enthusiasts.