A Dangerous Stunt for Authenticity

Austin Abrams discovered the perils of cinematic dedication while working on the upcoming horror production Resident Evil. The 29-year-old actor faced a potentially life-threatening situation on set, according to director Zach Cregger, who described how a massive, body-sized prop nearly struck the star.


During a press Q&A, Cregger detailed a high-octane sequence where Abrams' character, a medical courier named Bryan, navigates a chaotic zombie apocalypse. As Bryan sprints down a street, he is pursued by zombies leaping from rooftops. Cregger aimed to avoid reliance on computer-generated imagery, opting instead for practical effects to heighten the tension.


«We had to basically design this thing where he’s just running and bodies are just falling and detonating all around him. I knew I didn’t want to do it with VFX because I feel like it would just look like VFX. So, I was like, “How do we do this where all these explosions are real?”» — Zach Cregger

The Narrow Escape

To achieve the desired intensity without digital manipulation, the production team utilized complex choreography and massive 150-pound “blood bags” dropped from cranes. Cregger recounted a terrifying moment during filming when one of these heavy props missed the actor by a mere margin.


«It would’ve killed him. If he had been one step to the right, he would’ve died,» Cregger noted, adding that the harrowing shot made it into the final cut of the film. Despite the risks involved, the director expressed immense pride in the team's ability to execute such an ambitious vision practically.


Creative Fulfillment and Teamwork

Reflecting on the production process, Cregger emphasized the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the satisfaction of seeing a director's vision manifest on screen. For him, the challenges faced on set served as a reminder of why he is passionate about the industry.


«That’s what’s so great about making movies is you have this scene, you have this amazing idea in your head, and then you just have all these people help you realize that idea and immortalize it on the screen,» Cregger remarked. «There’s a real sense of teamwork and accomplishment. I’m very proud of this movie. I feel like I grew a lot making it, just as a filmmaker.»


Resident Evil is scheduled to premiere in theaters on Friday, September 18.