Chandler Riggs has traded the zombie apocalypse for the horrors of Resident Evil, and his surprisingly impressive fan film Biohazard makes a convincing case that he deserves a shot at the franchise.
If you spent any time watching The Walking Dead during its heyday, chances are you remember Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, the young survivor who grew up in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and became one of the show’s most recognizable characters.
Well, apparently surviving the undead for eight seasons wasn’t enough.
Riggs has stepped behind the camera, writing, directing, and starring in Biohazard, a roughly 20-minute live-action fan film inspired by Resident Evil 7. And here’s the surprising part: it’s actually really damn good.
Not just good for a fan film. Not just good considering its limited budget. It’s a genuinely impressive little slice of survival horror that makes you wonder what Riggs could accomplish with a proper feature-length production and some serious studio backing.
Chandler Riggs Understands What Makes Resident Evil Scary
One of the most impressive things about Biohazard is how effectively it captures the atmosphere of Resident Evil 7.
When Capcom released the seventh mainline installment in its legendary survival horror franchise, it took the series in a dramatically different direction. Gone were many of the increasingly ridiculous action sequences that had come to dominate later entries. In their place was something more intimate, more unsettling, and considerably more frightening.
The Baker family’s nightmarish Louisiana property became a masterclass in claustrophobic horror, and Biohazard clearly understands the appeal of that approach.
Riggs doesn’t need a massive budget or an endless parade of CGI monsters to create tension. Instead, he leans into the atmosphere, unsettling imagery, and grimy aesthetic that helped make Resident Evil 7 such a memorable experience.
And it works.
This Doesn’t Look Like Your Average Fan Film
Let’s get something out of the way: Biohazard is an independent fan production, and there are moments when its modest resources are apparent.
But you’d be surprised how rarely those limitations become a distraction.
The cinematography is remarkably accomplished, with compositions and lighting that wouldn’t feel out of place in a considerably more expensive horror production. There’s an obvious understanding of how to frame a scene, build tension, and make an environment feel genuinely threatening.
The special effects are another pleasant surprise.
Some of the practical makeup work is particularly effective, delivering exactly the kind of nasty, visceral imagery you’d expect from something carrying the Resident Evil name. Rather than relying entirely on digital trickery, the production embraces the physical, grotesque qualities that make practical horror effects so satisfying.
It’s the kind of filmmaking that demonstrates what can happen when creativity and a genuine affection for the material outweigh financial limitations.
And Riggs himself? He’s pretty damn good.
Having spent much of his childhood fighting zombies on television, he’s certainly no stranger to the genre. But there’s a difference between acting in someone else’s horror production and taking creative ownership of one.
Here, Riggs proves he’s interested in doing both.
Forget Just Acting. Give Chandler Riggs a Resident Evil Movie.
Now here’s where things get interesting.
With Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil now behind us, there’s an interesting question worth asking about the future of Capcom’s legendary survival horror franchise.
And while Cregger has offered his own interpretation of the Resident Evil universe, watching Biohazard raises another question:
Why isn’t Chandler Riggs being given an opportunity to make a feature-length Resident Evil movie?
Seriously.
We’re talking about an actor with years of experience in one of television’s biggest horror franchises who has now demonstrated an ability to write, direct, and star in a surprisingly polished adaptation of one of gaming’s most beloved horror properties.
That doesn’t automatically mean he’s ready to direct a multimillion-dollar studio production. A 20-minute short and a full-length feature are very different animals.
But everybody has to start somewhere.
And if Biohazard is what Riggs can accomplish with comparatively limited resources, it’s hard not to wonder what he could do with a bigger budget, an experienced production team, and the opportunity to tell a more ambitious story.
Perhaps the next great Resident Evil filmmaker isn’t somebody Hollywood needs to discover.
Perhaps he’s somebody horror fans have been watching for years.
Watch Chandler Riggs’ Biohazard Fan Film
The best part? You don’t have to take our word for any of this.
Biohazard is available to watch on YouTube right now, and at approximately 20 minutes, it’s absolutely worth your time, particularly if you’re a fan of Resident Evil 7.
Watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-a5Kn9p8WM
Whether you’re a longtime Resident Evil fan, someone who remembers Riggs from The Walking Dead, or simply a horror enthusiast who appreciates seeing independent filmmakers punch above their weight, there’s plenty here to enjoy.
And while we’re looking forward to seeing what Zach Cregger does with Resident Evil, we’d love to see Chandler Riggs get his own opportunity to explore this universe on a much larger scale.
Because if Biohazard proves anything, it’s that sometimes the most interesting possibilities for a franchise aren’t coming from a Hollywood boardroom.
Sometimes they’re coming from a fan who knows exactly what makes the material work.
So, Capcom, are you paying attention?
What do you think? Would you watch a feature-length Resident Evil movie written and directed by Chandler Riggs? Let us know in the comments.
