Screenwriter Shay Hatten, writer of the horror film Resident Evil, has discussed his approach to creating an atmosphere that combines tension and comedy, as well as his collaboration with director Zach Cregger to bring the spirit of the video games to the screen.
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The film follows Brian, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who finds himself caught in a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City while attempting to deliver a mysterious package. The filmmakers chose to introduce a new character rather than use familiar game characters such as Leon Kennedy.
In an interview with Digital Trends, Hatten said that, as fans of the games, he and Cregger wanted to capture their fundamental feeling on screen: survival horror and the sense of being trapped without knowing how to survive.
He explained that Brian faces the situation with no experience. He does not know how to use a weapon, shoots his own car and gets caught in an electric fence. Hatten said the character’s repeated mistakes make him relatable to audiences, allowing viewers to imagine themselves in the same situation.
Hatten praised Abrams’ performance, saying he successfully portrayed an ordinary, confused man who makes mistakes but remains likable. He added that the character developed naturally during the writing process, with the writers coming up with situations that made them laugh and then building on them.
Hatten described his collaboration with Cregger as a fast-paced, shared experience. They discussed developments in the story through video calls, then wrote sections and read their work to each other. He said they wrote the film together step by step, a process that helped shape its chaotic energy.
The film blends horror and comedy, a balance Hatten said was inspired by Sam Raimi’s films, particularly the Evil Dead franchise. He noted that the hospital and laboratory sequences in the final act were among the parts he most enjoyed writing, although some of their ideas initially seemed difficult to execute.
The film also explores Brian’s fear of fatherhood. Hatten said this aspect was not planned in detail from the beginning but developed naturally as the story progressed, leading to the maternity ward scenes that force the character to confront his fears.
Asked about the possibility of a sequel, Hatten said no decision has been made yet. He believes the current film stands on its own as an independent work, while still leaving room for the story to continue.
He added that he could return to this world if a new idea emerged that was worth pursuing.
Hatten also revealed that he is working with director James Wan on the screenplay for a remake of the Korean action film The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, expressing his enthusiasm about working with him.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
