Austin Abrams learned firsthand that going the extra mile for a movie can have consequences.
While filming the upcoming film Resident Evil, Abrams, 29, had a near-death experience, according to director Zach Cregger, when a “body-sized blood bag” almost took him out.
“It’s in the trailer momentarily, but [Austin is] running down the street, and there’s zombies on the roof of the buildings on either side, and they’re all leaping at him,” Cregger, 45, told reporters during a Q&A, SlashFilm reported on Thursday, July 23, of the explosive scene.
He explained that in the movie, Abrams’ Bryan, a medical courier, must fight for his life when a zombie apocalypse breaks out around him.
While the film is based on the video game by the same name, Cregger said he wanted the scenes to feel as realistic as possible.
“We had to basically design this thing where he’s just running and bodies are just falling and detonating all around him. And I knew I didn’t want to do it with VFX because I feel like it would just look like VFX,” he recalled, referring to visual effects that are usually computer-generated. “So, I was like, ‘How do we do this where all these explosions are real?’”
Cregger noted he was able to avoid VFX by using choreography, staging and dropping 150 pound “blood bags” from cranes as Abrams ran take after take.
Austin Abrams in ‘Resident Evil.’ Sony Pictures Releasing/Everett Collection
The director, however, said tragedy almost struck when one of the bags came extremely close to falling on the actor’s head.
“It would’ve killed him. If he had been one step to the right, he would’ve died,” Cregger revealed. “[The shot is] in the movie, so it’s f***ing worth it. I was pretty stunned.”
Cregger confessed that the blood bag situation wasn’t the only time Abrams was in danger on set.
In fact, he said that Abrams actually “split his head open in an elevator shaft” after a separate accident.
Cregger admitted that despite the obstacles along the way, the movie really came together and reminded him what he loves about the industry.
“That’s what’s so great about making movies is you have this scene, you have this amazing idea in your head, and then you just have all these people help you realize that idea and immortalize it on the screen,” he shared. “And there’s a real sense of teamwork and accomplishment. I’m very proud of this movie. I feel like I grew a lot making it, just as a filmmaker.”
Resident Evil hits theaters on Friday, September 18.
