‘Resident Evil’ Director Zach Cregger Reveals His Unexpected Filmmaking Secret

Between the basement in Barbarian and the empty bedrooms in Weapons, Zach Cregger has given horror audiences plenty of reasons to dread an ordinary doorway. His movies make looking around a corner feel like a decision you might regret, then leave you waiting long enough to reconsider whether you wanted to see what was there. That's an appealing skill to bring to Resident Evil, where entering the next room can require a small act of courage.

Adapting the games also means working with an audience that knows the difference between watching someone walk toward danger and having to make them do it. Players can spend several minutes negotiating with themselves before opening a door. A filmmaker has to create that hesitation while controlling when the audience gets to move forward, making the anticipation as important as whatever finally appears.

Collider can exclusively debut a new behind-the-scenes video featuring Cregger discussing his approach to immersive horror and his work on Resident Evil. The short-form interview also explores how the iPhone has become one of his go-to filmmaking tools, offering a look at the practical side of developing the scares audiences eventually experience on screen. Our exclusive video arrives as Resident Evil becomes available to buy and rent through the Apple TV app. Watch our exclusive video below.

Zach Cregger Takes Fans Behind the Horror of ‘Resident Evil’

One of the most effective stretches of Barbarian follows Tess deeper into a space she has every reason to leave. Each discovery makes the situation worse, but it also makes looking away harder. Cregger understands the terrible appeal of needing an answer, even when the sensible response would be to get back in the car. That instinct has an obvious connection to Resident Evil. Exploring an unfamiliar location is a huge part of the games' appeal, and the environments can frighten players before an enemy enters the picture. A hallway becomes more threatening when you're already wondering how you'll get back through it. The geography matters because you're mentally planning an escape.

Hearing Cregger discuss immersion is therefore a useful way into his approach to the material. His use of iPhone adds another point of interest, taking the conversation beyond the finished images and into the tools he uses as a filmmaker. Our exclusive BTS video gives fans an opportunity to hear that process discussed by the director himself. For audiences who came to Resident Evil through Barbarian or Weapons, it's also a chance to consider the filmmaking instincts connecting his horror projects. The settings and threats change, but the pleasure of watching someone investigate something they should leave alone remains a powerful invitation.

Resident Evil is available to buy and rent on the Apple TV app now. Stay tuned at Collider for more.