The "Turning Around Zombie" (often informally referred to as the "First Zombie" or "Taz") is the name given to the first zombie encountered in Resident Evil, coined by Shinji Mikami in an interview for the GameCube biohazard Official Navigation Book.[1] The scene where it is found eating Kenneth J. Sullivan and turns around to face the player has become an iconic moment from the franchise and a defining cultural moment in both horror and video games. In 2016, Capcom frequently used the image of the Turning Around Zombie to celebrate the series 20th Anniversary.

In Jill's scenario, the creature will follow Jill back into the dining hall regardless if it was killed in the tea room or not. If Jill avoids the tea room and repeatedly attempts to re-enter the mansion's foyer after Barry has discovered the pool of blood, the zombie will break into the dining room on it's own. After seemingly killing the creature, Jill and Barry, will temporarily ponder it's nature, as well as its role in Sullivan's death, before deciding to return to the foyer to report the situation to Albert Wesker. In the REmake, the zombie will survive this initial encounter and sneak back into it's tea room when the duo attempt to leave the dining hall. It also makes an additional appearance later in Kenneth's Film, where it is shown killing Sullivan.