Filmmaker Zach Cregger Talks Weapons, Barbarian, and Resident Evil

About this episode

Nobody can predict where a Zach Cregger movie is going to take them… not even Zach Cregger. Since starting his career in sketch comedy, Cregger has gone on to become one of the most talked-about filmmakers in horror – earning acclaim for the perspective-shifting, expectation-subverting storytelling showcased in Barbarian and Weapons, the latter of which earned Amy Madigan an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Now, he’s bringing his signature vision to Resident Evil, the legendary survival horror franchise. Starring Austin Abrams, the film is what Cregger calls “a love letter” to the games, aiming to recreate the exhilarating dread of pressing deeper into the unknown with dwindling resources, no way back, and no idea what might be waiting in the shadows ahead.

In this episode, Zach talks with Jacqueline Coley about pitching Resident Evil while he was still making Barbarian, and how he approached translating the games to the screen through meticulously choreographed stunt work, practical effects, and how his vision was shaped by the thousands of hours he’s spent playing the games. He lets us into his creative process, dissecting how Barbarian started as a simple writing exercise inspired by a self-help book and how an abandoned screenplay eventually gave birth to Weapons’ Aunt Gladys. Zach and Jacqueline also discuss their favorite Austin Abrams performances, Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II and its influence on Zach’s work, and why his years writing comedy taught him to always be on the lookout for the weirdest possible idea.

To watch the movies discussed in this episode and more, head to stream.fandango.com