Zach Cregger’s unlikely war movie inspiration
From Battlefield to Bio-Horror: How WWI Inspired the World of Resident Evil
The world of horror movies often relies on seemingly chaotic jumps, but sometimes the most profound inspirations come from seemingly unrelated cinematic landscapes. Director Zach Cregger, known for crafting the intense world of Resident Evil, recently drew a surprising parallel between his work and the epic war film 1917. While the tones are vastly different, Cregger found that the structural approach of the World War I masterpiece provided a surprisingly apt blueprint for his own cinematic vision.
When asked about the cinematic influences on the franchise, Cregger noted that while films like Evil Dead 2 might offer some thematic kinship, it is the structure of 1917 that feels closest to the foundation of survival-based storytelling. The similarity lies not in the action, but in the mindset: a solitary figure facing impossible circumstances with a single, defining goal in mind.
1917, directed by Sam Mendes, is a sweeping masterpiece that follows two British soldiers on a mission during World War I. The film earned significant recognition, including ten nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, taking home accolades for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.
This focus on the gravity of a mission and the sheer difficulty of moving through an unfolding crisis resonates deeply with the core concept of survival horror. In the context of Resident Evil, the narrative shifts from the trenches of the Great War to a lab-created apocalypse. The new movie plunges viewers into the world of the series, following a slightly miserable medical courier who must transport a mysterious package to Raccoon City. What he encounters there is not just peril, but a burgeoning catastrophe as a lab-created virus begins to dismantle humanity.
Cregger and his co-writer, Shay Hatten, channeled that same sense of focused urgency into the new installment. The story emphasizes the relentless struggle of navigating impossible circumstances, mirroring the disciplined yet desperate maneuvers required by the soldiers in 1917. It’s a story where the focus is squarely on endurance, proving that even amidst biological horror, the narrative backbone remains a high-stakes journey.
For those interested in the blend of historical scale and visceral fear, the connection is compelling. It demonstrates how the disciplined structure of a war film can translate seamlessly into the gripping tension of a survival horror experience. The new film, currently in theaters, proves that the art of enduring crisis, whether in 1917 or Resident Evil, remains one of cinema’s most powerful narrative tools.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
