Resident Evil director cut jokes after audiences said it was too funny

Zach Cregger has cut almost every joke from his new Resident Evil film after test audiences said it played too much like a comedy. The director described the recut in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, reported by Video Games Chronicle.

Test screenings are early showings held to gauge audience reaction before release. Cregger said audiences liked the film but thought it was too funny. He said he then stripped out as much of the humour as possible.

He does not miss it. Cregger said a little humour goes a long way in a horror film. He said there is not a single removed joke he misses.

He said the response improved after the cuts. Audiences enjoyed the film more. He liked the film more too.

That is a different tone from how the project was described in January, when a star called it a comedic and crazy origin story, according to GamesRadar. The remarks were made months before Cregger discussed the test screenings.

For fans, this means a cleaner break from past screen versions. The film is set during the events of Resident Evil 2, the second game in the horror video game series, but tells a completely different story with new characters. Cregger said he is not putting any legacy characters into the film, meaning familiar faces from the games will not appear.

The film is scheduled for release on 18 September.