Resident Evil Director Zach Cregger Has A Stealthy Cameo That You Probably Missed

This article contains spoilers for Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil."

Zach Cregger has asserted himself as a modern horror master in just a handful of short years. "Barbarian" put him on the map, but "Weapons" took him to another level when that film became a huge, mainstream, Oscar-winning hit. He's come a long way since co-directing the comedy flop "Miss March." His latest movie, a reboot of the "Resident Evil" franchise, has proved that he can work well within a pre-existing universe, and Cregger decided to include himself in that universe via a sneaky cameo.

The movie follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos. Taking place mostly in Raccoon City, it fits into the timeline of the video games alongside "Resident Evil 2." It's not directly adapting any of the games, instead opting to tell a brand new story inside that universe.

Abrams, who previously worked with Cregger on "Weapons," is on screen 99% of the time and has to carry the movie on his shoulders. Other actors, such as Paul Walter Hauser ("Balls Up") and Zach Cherry ("Severance"), show up for brief but memorable stints. However, Cregger managed to make himself part of the cast as well, though viewers would very much be forgiven if they missed his cameo.

Cregger's role in the movie comes in the third act after Bryan successfully makes his way to the hospital with the package. That package, he discovers, holds the key to developing a cure for the T-Virus infections. It's once he's at the hospital that we meet Cregger's character — although we never actually see him.

Once inside the parking garage of the hospital, Bryan can't get the elevator to work and believes that he's reached the end of his journey. The infection from the bite he suffered earlier is spreading, and after recording a voice note for his girlfriend, he breaks down crying. We then hear a voice over the intercom, instructing him how to get to the top floor with the crucial element the scientists need to make the antidote.

The way the movie plays out, it's fairly easy to assume this voice is that of Zach Cherry's Dave, who is revealed as the lead scientist once Bryan makes it through the building. However, in the credits, Cregger is credited as "voice on the intercom." So there we have it.

It's not altogether uncommon for directors to hide their cameos in movies using their voice. James Cameron has collected quite a few voice cameos in his movies. In a way, it makes a lot of sense: It's a technique that allows a director to insert themselves in their movie without it being terribly distracting. Alternatively, when M. Night Shyamalan physically shows up in his movies, it tends to give off the energy of the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme from "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."

Whatever Cregger's methods, they've been remarkably effective. "Resident Evil" broke the all time record on Rotten Tomatoes for a video game movie, becoming the best-reviewed adaptation to date. It's also looking like it's going to be a major hit at the box office as well, once again proving that Cregger has earned his place in modern Hollywood's A-list. He's certainly earned the right to have a little fun and lend his voice to a scene or two.

"Resident Evil" is in theaters now.