Horrifying RE trailer confuses fans over the timeline

The world of horror franchises is always buzzing with anticipation, but the latest glimpse into the direction of Resident Evil promises a delightful mix of terror and temporal confusion.

A new trailer has dropped, offering fans a fresh perspective on the ongoing cinematic universe spearheaded by director Zach Cregger. The teaser immediately thrusts us into the shoes of Austin Abrams’ character, Bryan, who begins his harrowing journey as a hospital delivery orderly. But this is no ordinary delivery run; it quickly descends into an encounter with the truly terrifying—the undead are lurking around every corner, signaling that the nightmare has officially begun.

“Everything that has happened in this town transpired in a matter of hours,” one of the characters tells Bryan, hinting at a catastrophic and immediate crisis unfolding around him. The delivery itself seems to be merely the prelude to a much darker fate as Bryan heads toward Racoon City General, promising a long night for the hapless driver.

What truly sets this new reveal apart is the subtle yet significant shift in setting. Cregger has confirmed that the film will take place on the periphery of the events seen in Resident Evil 2, establishing itself as a parallel story happening alongside the famous Raccoon City outbreak.

However, this contextualization immediately sparks a delightful paradox for movie lovers. While the setting is clearly rooted in the infamous Raccoon City, the visual cues within the trailer suggest a modern reality. Bryan is seen using a smartphone, which throws fans into a delightful quandary: Is this story set in 1998, as the original game suggests, or is it firmly planted in the modern day?

The ambiguity has already ignited a lively debate among the fanbase. Some are clearly thrown by the temporal shift, wondering about the timeline and how these events tie into the broader franchise narrative. This kind of setting play is cinematic gold, injecting new layers of complexity into an established world.

As we await the full movie, the mystery surrounding the timeline will only deepen the intrigue. Regardless of the exact date, the trailer successfully delivered on the horror front, reminding us that whether the action takes place in the past or present, the threat remains brutally real. Mark your calendars: Resident Evil is set to hit theaters on September 18th.