What the second trailer for Zach Cregger's Resident Evil reveals to us

Resident Evil - Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Two months before its scheduled release date, we’ve been treated to the second official trailer for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, hinting at more easter eggs, more character and more terror.

The trailer opens with medical courier Bryan, played by Weapons star Austin Abrams, at a hospital agreeing to a last minute, double-pay delivery “outside the zone.” While driving on a snow-covered lonely road at night while arguing with his love interest Michelle over speaker phone, he accidentally hits a woman wandering onto the road. After getting out to find her gone, and bloody footprints leading into the woods, he discovers her mangled and stiffened body. He makes his way to a nearby farmhouse to call for help, finding signs of a struggle inside, as well as a shotgun. He leaves a message for Michelle, telling her something bad has happened and he can’t reach the police.

This is when we really step into the nostalgia of the original Resident Evil universe. Bryan searches desk drawers for shotgun shells, mirroring several times players must pry through drawers and lockers to find ammunition or health items (i.e. green herbs, first aid spray). Just as Bryan finds ammo in a study, he looks out the window to see the woman he hit running towards the house, moving much faster than original T-Virus zombies in the games. A black typewriter sits on the desk in the study, referencing the classic “save points” throughout different moments in the games.

Throughout the rest of the trailer, we catch more glimpses of Raccoon City, including the familiar sequence of Bryan rushing through the streets as zombies fall from the buildings, exploding like bombs and covering Bryan in blood. According to Zach Cregger, Austin Abrams was almost seriously injured while filming this.

We also catch some previously unseen parts, such as what looks like an infant zombie’s hand rising from a hospital crib, and a brief monologue from an unnamed character played by Walter Hauser, who portrayed serial killer Larry Hall in Apple TV’s Black Bird. He speaks, presumably to Bryan, about how the outbreak transpired in a matter of hours and stresses the importance of Bryan’s mysterious cargo.

It ends with Bryan being told by an unnamed medical professional that his destination is Raccoon City General Hospital, to which he casually says “hey, no sweat!”

While there weren’t as many glimpses into the film as there were in the first trailer released a few months ago, the second trailer established more of the story. With the script and direction from Zach Cregger, and shots from legendary cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, the dire atmosphere teased will probably have us sleeping with a typewriter by our beds.

Both Zach Cregger and the Resident Evil franchise have enjoyed recent success. Cregger’s massive hit Weapons was released less than a year ago in August, with actress Amy Madigan receiving the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. He calls Resident Evil his “most visually gonzo” movie yet.

Resident Evil: Requiem, the latest installment in the videogame series, was released in February. Reception for the game was very good, with highlights including Leon Kennedy’s aged approach and the nostalgic return to Raccoon City.

Resident Evil will be released in theaters September 18, 2026.