Resident Evil ending explained: Will there be a sequel to Zach Cregger's film?

**(WARNING: Contains full spoilers for Resident Evil)**

Inspired by the experience of playing the games rather than based on any particular entry in the popular franchise, the extremely well-reviewed film follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who is tasked with delivering a very important package to Raccoon General Hospital.

On his way, he encounters all sorts of horrifying creatures – with the film embracing full on body horror throughout its snappy 90-minute runtime – before a hugely entertaining finale that has somewhat divided fans.

So how does it all end up? And will there be another film in this rebooted continuity? Read on for everything you need to know, with the warning that there are full spoilers for Resident Evil below.

Resident Evil ending explained: What happens to Bryan?

Despite his general sense of haplessness, Bryan is somehow (just about) able to fight off and/or outrun most of his obstacles en route to his final destination of Raccoon General Hospital – even if he hasn't emerged unscathed.

Indeed, as he enters the hospital car park, he notes that the wound he picked up when an infected child bit him earlier in the film is beginning to quite rapidly worsen, making his goal all the more urgent.

He also records an emotional goodbye message for his girlfriend Michelle, in which he apologises for the flippancy with which he regarded her earlier news that she was pregnant.

Eventually, Bryan establishes contact with Umbrella researcher Carl via intercom and is told that he must take the stairs – and under no circumstances the elevator – to the lab on the 28th floor.

Bryan begins this ascent, but in his exhausted state quickly decides to disobey the orders and take the lift instead. It quickly becomes very apparent why he was so strictly advised against such a move.

In the lift, he is attacked from both sides, by an acid-vomiting infected from above and the monster made up of various corpses that has been following him throughout the movie from below.

Through miraculous means he is able to escape them and – still being chased – he enters the quite horrifying maternity ward before making his way to the now almost completely destroyed skybridge.

Using his very last bullet, he shoots open the ward's exit door which causes the vomiting infected to fall on the amalgam monster, with both tumbling from a great height and seemingly being killed for good. Success!

... Or not.

After he finally arrives at the lab and hands over the sample he has been carrying to the scientists so they can end work on the all-important antidote, Bryan really begins to feel the effects of the infection and more or less loses all control of himself.

One by one, he begins to kill the researchers before with a rather slapstick sequence playing out as they struggle to grab onto the vital syringe and complete the cure.

When just one scientist remains, he attempts to inject Bryan with the finally finished antidote but he fails and is killed as the syringe plummets, hopelessly, to the snowy ground beneath.

The film ends as the now completely transformed – and rather grotesque – mutated version of Bryan is approached by National Guard helicopters. Things don't look so rosy for anyone.

Will there be a sequel to Zach Cregger's Resident Evil?

At the time of writing, nothing has been confirmed one way or another about the future of the series.

Given the fact that the film has comfortably surpassed every previous entry in the Resident Evil franchise as far as critical reviews are concerned – and is well on its way to eclipsing them all financially, too – you'd imagine there would certainly be appetite for Cregger to return for more.

As for whether Cregger himself would be keen, it seems less likely. Given he's one of the most exciting filmmakers currently working in the horror genre – perhaps even one of the most exciting filmmakers currently working full stop – it seems he'd rather move on to other projects rather than become tied down to IP.

In fact, earlier this month Cregger explained in an interview with Deadline that he was opposed to working in franchises in general.

"I have never been approached by another franchise," he said. "Maybe I have, but it would never get to me because I have been very clear that I’m not doing that. I’m doing this, and that’s it for me.

"So I’m not going to go tackle any other franchises – just because I’m a writer, and I want to write whatever I want to write. I don’t want to write something where I have to make sure I’m tagging different data points to satisfy X.

"I just want to satisfy me. And the only reason that I think Resident Evil is OK for me to do is because I’m enthusiastic about the games and I like the story that I thought of with the games and I’m making it for me."

Zach Cregger at the Resident Evil premiere

Still, the director also said during an interview with The Playlist that he's not completely averse to making another film in the series, and even has some ideas for what could potentially happen in a follow-up.

"I can’t help thinking about other places this story could go," he said. "I’ve got ideas, but this movie hasn’t even come out yet. Let’s see what happens."

He added: "I want to talk about the ending of this movie so badly, because there is a big aspect of it that’s worth discussing. This is a different situation."

Cregger already has his next original film – titled The Flood – in development, so if he does press ahead with another Resident Evil film it would likely be a while before he can devote his time to it, but we'll be looking out for any and all updates.

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Resident Evil is now showing in UK cinemas.

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