Austin Abrams Recalls 'Harrowing' Resident Evil Snow Stunt — SkimNews
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- Austin Abrams stars as Brian, an original character not drawn from the Resident Evil games, in Zach Cregger's theatrical adaptation now playing in theaters.
- Abrams said he had never played Resident Evil or watched the films before being cast, calling horror gaming 'too frightening to engage with' and recalling quitting Dead Space 'in panic' during its opening.
- Cregger told Abrams a rooftop-zombie stunt on a wet, snow-covered road 'would've killed' him had he slipped; Abrams called filming it 'harrowing,' running in sneakers with no grip while zombies splattered on the pavement around him.
- Abrams reunited with Cregger after Weapons (2024), saying the collaboration 'felt like we just picked up where we left off' and calling the director's trust in him for a lead role 'really grateful'-making.
- Abrams described Brian as a man avoiding commitment with his girlfriend until the horror 'puts everything into perspective,' forcing him to confront what he actually wants from life.
- Abrams highlighted practical sets including a sewer featuring a 'big man' creature that 'really looked like a real, just humongous dude,' plus a 'funnier' creature surprise near the end.
- Abrams downplayed his emerging 'scream king' label from Tragedy Girls, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Weapons, saying the designation is 'not a goal in mind' and roles 'ebb and flow.'
Why it matters: Casting a lead who had never engaged with the Resident Evil franchise is a deliberate creative bet by Cregger that contrasts with the Paul W.S. Anderson era's fan-driven approach, suggesting he wanted a relatable everyman over a genre devotee. Cregger's own admission the rooftop-zombie stunt 'would've killed' Abrams if mishandled, paired with Abrams's praise of practical sets like the sewer, signals the film leans into visceral, physical horror filmmaking rather than CGI-heavy spectacle — a defining marker for the franchise's new chapter.
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