Director had a panic attack from RE monster
The line between gaming and genuine terror can be thin, especially when you step into the virtual world of a horror game. Resident Evil director Zach Cregger recently shared an intensely personal experience that perfectly illustrates this boundary, recounting how a virtual horror scenario pushed him to the brink of a panic attack.
Cregger, who has explored the horror landscape extensively, found that while he is accustomed to the thrills of virtual reality, the experience of playing Resident Evil 8 in VR delivered a truly terrifying punch. While he enjoys diving into games, the virtual environment presented a level of visceral fear that was genuinely overwhelming.
The source of this extreme reaction? A disturbing visual: a giant, deformed fetus chasing him through dark passages. Cregger described the sounds emanating from this virtual entity—creepy cries of “mama” and “dada”—as intensely frightening. Being immersed in that horrific scene, combined with the immediacy of virtual reality, triggered a full-blown panic attack.
“I’m in VR, I’m in the garage, and I’m having a full-blown panic attack,” Cregger explained. He admitted that for the first time in his adult life, he had to stop and take a break, seeking comfort in candy, before returning to face the virtual terror. For him, the experience was legitimately terrifying.
Despite the intense psychological toll, the atmosphere created by the game translated effectively into cinematic promise. The upcoming film adaptation of the franchise is set to bring this intense atmosphere to the screen. It stars Austin Abrams, known for roles in films like Euphoria and Weapons, as a medical courier caught in the chaos of an outbreak while making a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital.
Cregger, who co-penned the screenplay with Shay Hatten, directs this adaptation alongside talented actors including Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on September 18.
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