Sony Pictures Entertainment has dropped a new featurette for the upcoming Resident Evil movie, and in it, director Zach Cregger breaks down exactly what kind of film he set out to make. Cregger, best known for directing Barbarian and the recent Weapons, describes his approach as deeply personal.

“So I had this idea, for a story in the world of Resident Evil, but it’s kind of like me,” he says in the video.

“Like, if I was dropped into a Resident Evil game, I’m terrible with guns, I wouldn’t know how any of them work, I would miss 99% of my shots. This is an opportunity to be loyal to the games in spirit and in tone and build a story that just puts you in that scenario again and again and again with increasing stakes.”

Zach Cregger talks survival horror and his vision for Resident Evil. From the mind behind Weapons and Barbarian, Resident Evil is in theatres 9.18. Filmed for IMAX. #ResidentEvil pic.twitter.com/UdhlIWA1aE

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That philosophy carries over into the film’s actual design. The movie will borrow several elements straight from the games, including a first-person perspective, fixed camera angles, green herbs, and even characters who miss their shots. It is a clear nod to the gameplay experience that fans of the franchise know well.

One thing the film will not have, though, is any familiar faces from the game series. Characters like Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield will not be appearing. Instead, Austin Abrams, who also appeared in Weapons, will lead the cast as a brand new character named Bryan. He is joined by Zach Cherry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kali Reis. The Resident Evil Movie is set to hit both standard and IMAX theaters on September 18.

On the gaming side, the latest entry in the franchise, Resident Evil Requiem, is already out now. It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.