Resident Evil: Movie Review

Cast: Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry
Director: Zach Cregger

If you think of the cinematic versions of Resident Evil, the chances are you'll be consumed with thoughts of Milla Jovovich pirouetting her way through balletic moves to tackle zombies and overgrown creatures, all under the watchful eye of director Paul W S Anderson.

However, the 2026 version of Resident Evil, the Capcom game franchise which has spawned several versions of uncomfortable horror games, is from Zach Cregger, the man who created the unsettling and unnerving atmospherics of Weapons.

It focuses on medical courier Bryan (Abrams) who's just been told his girlfriend Michelle has discovered they're pregnant. Faced with a conversation he doesn't want to have, Bryan takes one last night job after he's given a parcel to deliver to a hospital in Raccoon City. However, when as he ventures further into a snowy wasteland, his luck begins to run out as error after error pushes him deeper into the world ravaged by an outbreak.

What's evident about the 2026 version of Resident Evil is just how funny it is, how reverent it is to the structure of a video game and how it uses those tropes to (largely) fashion something that has both suspense, a degree of intelligence and makes the most of the ineptitude of its lead.

While the film is still confined to the idea of video game levels (deliver the medical parcel, escape the creature attack in the barn, get through a tunnel which is blocked by a bus, go into the sewer tunnel and various iterations of The Raid in a hospital), Cregger manages to inject a DNA that gels throughout the piece, thanks largely to his lead Austin Abrams.

With elements of what any normal person would do in this situation to a an apparently good guy too inept to do anything but fail when trying to do the right thing, Abrams makes his Bryan a character that you care about and identify with as it all begins to go wrong. 

There's a solid vein of dark humour here as well that's a clever distraction from the suspense and tension and once again plays to the strength of timing and reaction throughout.

And Cregger's done a great job of adapting the source material too. Whether it's having the hero scrabbling around trying to find bullets for the gun in drawers, cabinets and even a fridge, a subtle nod to Resident Evil: Village or creating a shot that follows the action down the barrel of a shotgun to the Raccoon City ambience and a riff on Resident Evil 3's opening it's a solid interpretation of the game's appeal without alienating a non-familiar audience.

One sequence inside Raccoon City as Bryan walks the snow-filled streets and creatures come hurtling down from the skies is visually stunning, and utterly horrific as they explode all around him on landing. It's incredible stuff.

But it's not all perfect.

Paul Walter Hauser is largely wasted as a guy who just shows up to provide some exposition and background to what's going on (albeit infused with some humour at his part in proceedings) and True Detective Night Country's Kali Reis is sidelined with an inexplicably bad entrance and exit that makes little sense.

Resident Evil comes in at around 90 minutes and it's just the right pace to sustain what's going on and unfolding before the body horror and contorted limbs teeters on the wrong side of the ledger.

Overall, 2026's Resident Evil is a blast, a clever mix of Cregger's occasional penchant for the off-kilter, an engaging lead in Abrams and a deep reverence for the world it's mining from.

Black Sheeps first-look trailer

Iconic New Zealand horror Black Sheep has just released its first trailer and revealed details of its highly anticipated premiere abroad.

The sequel to Jonathan King's iconic 2006 black comedy horror will be released in New Zealand in October, getting its premiere first in King's hometown of Wellington before playing a few days later in Auckland at the Terror-Fi Film Festival.

Twenty years after New Zealand’s sheep turned killer in the acclaimed cult comedy-horror Black Sheep, director Jonathan King is back with Black Sheeps - an even bloodier, funnier sequel bringing some familiar faces and a fresh flock of horrors to the screen.

The trailer for Black Sheeps dropped today, with the killer flock ready to make a meal of New Zealand audiences in cinemas from November 12, following a New Zealand premiere at the Terror-Fi Film Festival in Wellington on October 24 and Auckland on October 28. 

Set in and around the first film’s farm and its neighbouring town, Black Sheeps follows a young scientist investigating a dangerous new pathogen tied to the events of the original. The sequel brings together a fresh ensemble of New Zealand talent including newcomer Tabatha Kilick (Dark Sands), Joe Witkowski (Sweet Tooth, Shadow in the Cloud), alongside some familiar faces from the first film, including Nathan Meister (What We Do in the Shadows) reprising his role as Henry Oldfield, and Oliver Driver (Shortland Street) returning as Grant.

Released in 2006, Black Sheep earned $US5m at the global box office and became a cult favourite with its uniquely New Zealand take on the creature-feature genre, turning one of the country's most recognisable animals into a bloodthirsty horror icon. Two decades later, Black Sheeps introduces a new generation of characters - and a new flock with an appetite for carnage. 

Director Jonathan King returns to everything audiences loved about the original - killer sheep, creature effects, gore and that distinctly Kiwi strain of dark, splattery humour.

“It’s great to be back where it all began,” says King. “We made the original Black Sheep in Wellington 20 years ago, so bringing Black Sheeps back here feels like a fitting way to mark the occasion. A lot has changed since then, although there’s still plenty of mileage left in making sheep terrifying – and funny.”

The filmmakers have also reunited with the world-renowned, multi-award-winning effects company Wētā Workshop, which provided the iconic creature effects in the first film, for a new generation of practical creature FX. “This has been a thrilling collaboration with Wētā Workshop,” says King, “my third time working with them, and they’re the best in the world at state-of-the-art, practical FX. We’ve had the opportunity to refine the design of things like our Weresheep - with technology that wasn’t available 20 years ago - and to see how another key creature from the first film has aged over the intervening decades.”

The sequel will have its international premiere at the prestigious 2026 Sitges Film Festival in Spain, the world’s leading genre film festival.

Black Sheeps is directed by Jonathan King and written by King, Matthew Grainger and Rosie Howells. King and Grainger produce alongside Terror-Fi’s James Partridge, with Philippa Campbell, Richard Fletcher, Matthew Bradley, Ron Bradley, Samantha Braun, and Umbrella’s Jasmin McSweeney and Ari Harrison serving as executive producers.

The film was made with support from the New Zealand Film Commission. Umbrella is distributing Black Sheeps in New Zealand and Australia, with WTFilms handling international sales.

Black Sheeps will release nationwide from November 12.

The Weight: Movie Review

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Russell Crowe, Julia Jones, Austin Amelio
Director: Padraic McKinley

A Depression-era film with a bit of directorial flair and clout and an actor who's getting better with age, Padraic McKinley's tale of a man separated from his daughter has all the heft its title promises.

Hawke is Samuel Murphy, a former soldier turned mechanic who has a knack of getting things done. However, as it's 1933 and America's suffering, those skills land him and his daughter nowhere as he's forced out onto the street with his child. Things get worse when he ends up in jail after a street brawl.

Sentenced to a labour camp and with only a desire to do his time to get back to his daughter, Murphy is offered an out by camp boss Warden Clancy (Crowe, mainly bookending the movie). The only catch is he and a group of men have to transfer gold across the wilderness before President Roosevelt snatches it from the mines.

Tasked with the perilous journey and the wilderness, as well as the untrustworthiness of his colleagues, Murphy finds his route to would-be freedom is anything but simple.

There's a veritable grit to The Weight, which is carried largely by one of Hawke's best performances. A knotty role delivered by a sinewy and taut lead, the film wastes none of its time getting down to the plot - even if it could do with losing maybe a little of its 2-hour runtime.

An action-adventure survival thriller that offers up at least one moment of directorial flair (within a storm sequence), McKinley's story does little to tug at the heartstrings, but plays all the classic trappings of a film built on twists and the violence that men do in desperate times.

But wisely, he never loses the heart of his lead Murphy, a man who's caught between reality and the promise of something he desperately wants. It helps that Hawke never overplays his hand and is restrained in extremis, but offers the kind of compelling performance you'd want from a film that feels like it's come from yesteryear.

Whether it's the villainous terrain or the actual villains of the piece, The Weight manages to make the most out of both its setting and its leads, crafting levels of suspense that are hard to resist. There's a grittiness to the drive on display here and the film goes to lengths to ensure that the rawness felt by all feels as real as the lines etched on Hawke's face.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Collector's Edition: Blu Ray Review

Released by Madman Home Entertainment

There's a certain sadness to the 10th anniversary release of this gorgeous Collector's Edition set.

With the death of Sir Sam Neill in July this year, the arrival of this set, which includes the 4K version of the film, a 40 page booklet, art cards and the book of Barry Cump's 1986 novel Wild Pork and Watercress, signals one of the last appearances of the Jurassic Park star in public as he undertook 10 year anniversary live Q&As with the cast.

And yet this film continues to provide joy in all its many forms, a truly New Zealand film about foster kid Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison, in his breakout role) going to live with a grumpy foster uncle (Neill, in his best role) and aunt (Housebound's Rima Te Wiata).

But it's in the collection that this set really shines.

Beautifully packaged together, it represents the true pinnacle of what a celebration of a local film should be. Whether it's behind the scenes footage or the aforementioned 10th anniversary screening Q&As, love pours out of this release. Plus, along with the 4K version of the film, there's never been a better way to see Ricky Baker in his adventures.

Do yourself a favour and make sure you own the ultimate edition of this beloved film - it's what Sir Sam Neill would have wanted.

Special Features 

Q&A at 10th Anniversary Screening (2026) 

Behind-the-scenes Footage (2016) 

Champion Local Cinema (2026) 

Seven Sharp Interview: Kate Rodger Interviews Taika Waititi and Sam Neill (2026) 

Flicks Talks: 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' Director Taika Waititi Interviewed by Liam Maguren (2016) Hunt for the Wilderpeople Red Carpet Premiere (2016) 

Cast And Crew Interviews (2016) 

Audio Commentary with Taika Waititi, Sam Neill and Julian Dennison (2016) 

Featurette Bloopers 

Theatrical Trailer

Doctor Who Season 2: Blu Ray Review

Published by BBC and Disney
Released by Madman Home Entertainment

What is there to say about the 2025 season of Doctor Who that's not already been said?

The series that saw the shock departure of its star Ncuti Gatwa and led to the show being put on hiatus has already been mired in controversy and years of debate to come.

But the Fifteenth Doctor's adventures in this second run - with the exception of the finale - show a marked improvement in both quality and tone, even if the run does feel somewhat truncated thanks to a shorter amount of episodes.

Including the Christmas special, Joy To The World, which starred Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan and the series of Doctor Who Unleashed, there are a few conventional extras, but there are no specially commissioned features made for this set, which will be an annoyance to Doctor Who fans who've come to relish the love poured into the Collection classic series franchise.

And while the Robot Revolution sends things on a shaky start, the quality noticeably begins to increase with episode two, Lux, and continues on from there. The Well, Lucky Day and The Story and The Engine push the show into the kind of territory that had been expected from the start, but it feels a little too late and it certainly all collapses with Wish World and The Reality War.

As a second season set, the collection is well put-together and while it can't escape the issues that have dogged it since, in terms of a season set, it's a handsomely collected piece of sci-fi and Doctor Who work.

It's just a shame that for many, this set will feel like a could have been, rather than a slightly shambolic farewell to a Doctor who impressed briefly and a show that now faces an unknown future.

EA releases official Soundtrack for EA SPORTS FC™ 27

The official Soundtrack for EA SPORTS FC™ 27 has been released, bringing together 120 tracks from 36 nations to mark the start of the new 2026/27 football season.

Key Details:

• Artists include Interpol, The Strokes, Royal Blood, Chase & Status, Little Simz, and more.
• Through The Grounds*, a new shared social football playground in FC 27, players will experience distinct musical identities across three districts inspired by English, French and Argentinian football heritage: Parkside, Montclair, and Zeiza. Each location is brought to life through its own curated Soundtrack.
• FC Mobile players will also have the chance to make their voice heard and vote on which of five songs from the new FC 27 Soundtrack should be added to the game
  
  
  

Featuring 120 tracks from 36 nations, the EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Soundtrack builds on more than 20 years of music discovery - bringing together global artists, emerging talent and unreleased music to The World's Game PRE-ORDER EA SPORTS FC 27 TODAY Listen to the full EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Soundtrack on Spotify and vote for your favourite track to be added to FC Mobile. For more than two decades, the EA SPORTS FC Soundtrack has become part of the ritual of a new season, and been one of football and music’s most recognisable cultural touchpoints, connecting millions of fans with new artists from around the globe. 

As anticipation builds ahead of Early Access on 18 September and the game’s worldwide launch on 25 September, the EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Soundtrack continues its legacy with a diverse mix of internationally renowned artists, breakthrough talent and unreleased music, reflecting the global communities that make up The World's Game. 

The FC 27 Soundtrack, exclusively on Spotify, spans established artist favourites, including Interpol, The Neighbourhood, The Strokes, The War on Drugs, Royal Blood, Nia Archives, Chase & Status, Little Simz and Barry Can't Swim, alongside exciting emerging talent such as The Itch, Sycco, Bruvvy, Temper City, bed and Rose Gray. Fans can also discover unreleased gems from Cage The Elephant, Mura Masa and many others, alongside Sayf’s “TOP OF THE POPS (Red Bull 64 Bars)” track, in a collection that captures the anticipation, energy and excitement for the football season ahead. 

"I’ve been playing EA SPORTS' football games since 2007; It’s something that’s been with me since I was a kid," said KYAN, EA SPORTS FC 27 Soundtrack Artist. “I always had this dream of one day turning on the game and hearing my own song playing there. It’s crazy that it's happened now, with the track ‘Garage’ with Enzo from the Block and Mu540, because our friendship also started through the game. We didn’t even speak the same language, but we could spend hours playing and understanding each other. I feel like 10-year-old Kyan would go crazy if he knew that one day this was going to happen." 

“EA always puts together a killer soundtrack for FC, so we were thrilled to have our brand-new song ‘Dying In Reverse’ make its debut this year,” said Cage the Elephant, EA SPORTS FC 27 Soundtrack Artist. “We can’t wait to hear it in the game.” 

This year, music plays a bigger role than ever before across the EA SPORTS FC experience. Through The Grounds*, a new shared social football playground in FC 27, players will experience distinct musical identities across three districts inspired by English, French and Argentinian football heritage: Parkside, Montclair, and Zeiza. 

Each location is brought to life through its own curated Soundtrack, immersing players in the sounds and atmosphere that represent the identity of each football hub. Additionally, FC Mobile is celebrating its third anniversary by allowing players to vote for music to be added in-game. Following a vote on fan-favourite tracks from across EA SPORTS FC Soundtrack history, players will also have the chance to make their voice heard and vote on which of five songs from the new FC 27 Soundtrack should be added to the game from September 10-12. 

The winning retro track will arrive in FC Mobile on 24 September, followed by the community’s favourite FC 27 track on 12 October. 

“Over the past 20 years, the EA SPORTS FC Soundtrack has become an international institution,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide President of Music & Marketing for EA Games. “The world’s game is annually enhanced by the world’s soundtrack, and FC 27 delivers one of our most globally representative playlists yet. These are the songs that will both define the year ahead and last a lifetime. We’re proud to deliver this exceptional celebration of artistry, culture and the power of music to bring people together like never before.” 

Listen to the EA SPORTS FC 27 Soundtrack on Spotify today. 

Players can go back in time and relive some of the most iconic songs from FC soundtracks through the Ultimate Mix playlist also on Spotify. Pre-orders are now available for EA SPORTS FC™ 27, which will launch on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. 

EA SPORTS FC™ 27 will be available worldwide to play on September 25, 2026, with Ultimate Edition and Ultimate Plus Edition early access beginning September 18, 2026.

** For more information on EA SPORTS FC™ 27, please visit ea.com/fc27 and ensure you’re following our global social channels for all the latest upcoming news and announcements for EA SPORTS FC™. 

 *The Grounds mode, including Clubs, only available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2 versions. 

**Conditions & restrictions apply. See ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-27/game-disclaimers for details.