Zach Cregger reveals his top 4 games of all time
When a director steps behind the camera, they often look for inspiration in the worlds they love. Zach Cregger, the mind behind the recent Resident Evil adaptation, certainly knows how to channel that passion. Not only has he delivered what many consider one of the best video game movies ever made, but he has also opened up a window into his deep love for gaming, inviting the audience into his personal collection of favorite titles.
When pressed to share what truly captivates him in the world of interactive entertainment, Cregger put forth a list of his top four games of all time. The selection is a stellar mix of intense horror and challenging gameplay: The Binding of Isaac, Dark Souls 3, Resident Evil 4, and The Last of Us Part II. This curated list speaks volumes about the kind of immersive, high-stakes narrative he seeks to bring to the screen.
It is no surprise that the inclusion of Resident Evil 4 immediately drew attention, as Cregger acknowledged that his new film draws significant inspiration from that beloved title. The connection is clear, as he even managed to sneak in a subtle Easter egg from the game into the trailer, hinting at the deep influence the source material has on his creative vision.
Beyond just cinematic inspiration, Cregger’s gaming knowledge extended into the production itself. He shared that he gave the cast some homework, telling the actor playing star Austin Abrams to dive into the world of Resident Evil 2, 4, and 7. This deep immersion helped inform the performance and the overall tone of the cinematic experience.
Despite his undeniable gamer credentials, some fans have expressed a degree of lingering sentimentality, noting that the adaptation chose a new protagonist rather than retaining the iconic status of Leon S. Kennedy. The film follows the story of Bryan, a medical courier tasked with delivering a package to Raccoon City General Hospital just as a zombie apocalypse breaks out. Yet, Cregger countered this by emphasizing that the movie’s visual language is deeply rooted in the source material.
He noted that the visual style employs a cinematic approach, utilizing third-person and over-the-shoulder shots for most of the runtime, punctuated by shifts to first-person perspectives. Cregger felt this aesthetic truly leans into the unique visual vocabulary of video games, creating an atmosphere that feels inherently familiar yet thrillingly new.
Ultimately, the film succeeds by taking the foundational horror of the franchise and filtering it through a lens shaped by years of gaming experience, proving that sometimes, the deepest truths about a world are found within the digital landscapes we explore.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
