Chandler Riggs makes a Resident Evil 7 short film despite impossible odds
Chandler Riggs is perhaps most famous for bringing the iconic Carl Grimes to life in The Walking Dead. Yet, his talents have recently shifted from the apocalypse to the eerie world of video game adaptation, where he stepped into the role of Ethan Winters in a fan-made short film based on Resident Evil 7. This project, a taut twenty-minute exploration set in the Baker’s Bayou, offers more than just a thrilling garage fight; it provides a fascinating look at the tension between faithful adaptation and artistic license.
The most compelling element of the short film, however, isn’t the action itself, but the decision to show Ethan Winters’ face. In the original games, Ethan is intentionally kept shrouded in first-person perspective, a choice that minimizes the player’s direct focus and enhances the immersive horror experience. By choosing to feature Riggs’ face, the director broke established cinematic rules, offering a more direct, character-focused portrayal of the protagonist.
Riggs admitted that making this shift was an intensely personal experience. “It was absolutely an intimidating thing,” he shared, reflecting on the creative choice. While the goal was to remain super faithful to the game’s narrative, the need to pull Ethan out of the first-person shell became a powerful artistic necessity. He felt that to appeal to a wider audience—beyond just hardcore gamers—some creative boundaries had to be redrawn.
This dilemma mirrors the challenge faced by all storytellers: finding the perfect balance. Riggs empathizes with his collaborator, Zach Cregger, who took the reins for the film interpretation of the Resident Evil franchise. He suggests that there is no single right answer when adapting complex lore. Instead, there is a spectrum of choices, acknowledging that there will always be a segment of the audience that remains unhappy, but celebrating the pursuit of a compelling story.
Riggs respects Cregger’s willingness to pursue his own vision, rather than being strictly chained to established lore. This respect for independent storytelling speaks to the broader creative landscape of video game adaptations. Ultimately, Riggs sees his work not as a deviation, but as an attempt to inject a fresh perspective into a beloved franchise.
This collaboration has sparked a desire for future projects. Riggs expressed genuine excitement about the experience and the opportunity for creative partnership, hinting at the possibility of more work with Cregger down the line. For now, the legacy of the short film stands as a memorable example of how talent and artistic ambition can merge beloved franchises into something new and compelling.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
