The film is the highest-rated project in Cregger’s career, surpassing his previous works such as Companion, Weapons, and Barbarian. The director has faced some fan backlash over the film’s approach, including its decision to exclude characters from the games and its initial tone. Cregger has defended the project as a love letter to the franchise that follows the established lore.

The film is set to release on Friday, and it remains to be seen whether the audience score will match the critical acclaim. The director recently revealed that he removed some humour from an early cut after test screenings, a change he believes improved the film. Cregger has expressed frustration with the fan criticism, stating that the movie will speak for itself.