Here’s How the ‘Resident Evil’ Monsters Came to Monstrous Life

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie has some gnarly special zombies that put Austin Abrams’ Bryan through hell. And now that it’s out, that means it’s time for a peek behind the curtain. On Instagram, movement coordinator Jakub Hudlický released old test videos from July 2025 showing how the team physically performed the Merged Monster. Made up of the zombies Bryan’s killed and short-lived allies like Paul (Paul Walter Hauser) and Maxine (Kali Reis), the beast is the closest the film gets to a “big bad,” relentlessly chasing Bryan throughout town as a set piece to avoid and eventually defeat. Hudlický said figuring out how the Merged “mooooved” was a big question for him, stunt team Filmka, and Czech theatre company Cirk La Putyka. In his post, multiple videos show how the Merged came together thanks to multiple performers in configurations of 2-4 people strapped together and cartwheeling as a single unit. The more performers there are, the more fluid the movement becomes; two people can’t help but look a little awkward, three is a bit more natural, and then four looks like the sweet spot. Separately from him, creative dance agency Movement Production put out its own video highlighting the bloody maternity ward and hospital attendants. Both Movement and Hudlický were effusive toward production company Still King and Cregger for letting them be part of the film, with Hudlický calling it “such an amazing journey” to create the Merged Monster’s movement. Practical effects are always cool to see in horror movies, and it’s especially cool to see it for one like Resident Evil. Hopefully we get to see more of how the film’s monsters were made, either in the weeks ahead or as eventual bonus material in the home release. Want more io9 news? Check out the best movies and TV shows to stream this month and all the upcoming sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books that should be on your radar.