The Resident Evil franchise has produced 25 games and 6 movie adaptations since 1996. There are 10 main storyline games. In 2017, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was released and fans could immediately feel a difference between this game and previous entries. This game offered a storyline that felt fresh and new, and it took the game back to its original roots in horror. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has truly horrific imagery and a storyline that keeps players on the edge of their seats while exploring a neglected plantation and swampy bayou. A film adaptation of RE7 could spark another film franchise that feels more grounded in reality and therefore more terrifying.
The story begins with the protagonist, Ethan Winters, getting a strange message from his wife, Mia. The message is unsettling because Mia has been missing and presumed dead for almost 3 years. Understandably, Ethan rushes to Dulvey, Louisiana, where he discovers that his wife and the occupants of the house (the Baker’s) have been infected with a mold virus that changes an infected person's nervous system functions. This results in changes in mood, behavior, and perception. The infection is effectively a mind-control device created by the group The Connections, whom Mia was working for undercover. The infection takes shape in the form of a little girl who greatly desires to have a family of her own named Eveline. In the game, she was being transported on a ship with Mia as her escort when she got angry and crashed the ship near the Baker residence. After the wreck, she no longer was receiving a special serum that kept her from looking like a little girl. Instead, she began rapidly aging.
Although this story is based in the Resident Evil universe, it has a unique spin on the script. Seeing a small-scale and intimate story centered around a family feels personal and more real. The Baker family was just a normal family who was subjected to the atrocities of The Connections. The intimacy of the story and family dynamic would make an audience member relate to the situation on a primal level, inspiring more fear and horror. With the launch of Resident Evil Village as a sequel to Resident Evil 7:Biohazard, this could be the start of a new story to tell based in a familiar world.
Some of the imagery, like the scene where Ethan is tied up and subjected to a cannibalistic meal of guts and human body parts made by the deranged Baker family, would be absolutely terrifying to see in real life. Using practical make-up effects would ground the movie in reality and give it a classic horror movie vibe. Makeup artist's like Eryn Krueger Mekash—artist for American Horror Story—or Greg Nicotero—artist for The Walking Dead—could do the special effects makeup for the films. Both artists are skilled at making realistic and flawless looks for their respective shows.
A good story can become great in the hands of the right director. A singular vision that's well thought out is important in any film. One of the best horror movie directors working today is Ari Aster. His work is focused on showing real-life tragedy through horrific imagery. His movie Hereditary is a good example of this. A family whose history involves a lot of death and suffering is depicted in such a way that leaves an audience both terrified and emotional. This could be perfect for an RE7 film adaptation. It would be great to see the perspective of the movie shift occasionally to show how the Bakers are victims in this too.
If the film wanted to go for a more comedic approach that's still scary, Karyn Kusama—director of Jennifer's Body—would be a great choice. Her film shows a young girl, mistaken as a virgin, become a sacrifice for an indie rock band to become famous. The film became a cult classic and is another example of something 'flipping the script.' Jennifer's Body takes classic horror movie tropes and pokes fun at them while creating new and inventive tales. There are a ton of comedic moments in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard that could be highlighted nicely with Kusama's touch.
What has happened to the bakers in this story, despite being horrific and grotesque, is still quite sad. This is why Guillermo del Toro would also make a great director. His work is known to be whimsical, frightening, and yet beautiful somehow. Although it would be hard to make scenes like when Ethan gives Eveline a toxin that transforms her into a large, sludge-covered monster beautiful, perhaps del Toro could evoke sympathy from an audience member through his character designs and stylistic framing.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has visuals that would thrill a movie theater full of people to see. It would make a fun and scary thrill ride of a tale that could reach audiences of a wider variety than just the fans of the video game. The story potential here is just beginning.