28 Weeks Later Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

Good sequel

One of the biggest surprises to me this year so far has been how impressive this second entry in the series actually is! I have been saying since this project was announced that it was a ‘pointless remake’ and would only ‘sully the impact of the first film’. Well, I sit here typing this whilst chewing on my words and eating humble pie. 28 Weeks Later is slightly flawed, but an impressive addition to the tale.

The tale, of course, is the one from 28 Days Later, where an experimental virus named ‘Rage’ is accidentally released on the population of Britain by some animal welfare activists. The ‘disease’ turns those infected into mindless, rage-fuelled mobs, who have one thing in mind – attacking, eating and infecting everyone else. The infection is spread by exchange of fluids (be it a splash of blood, or saliva), and affects within seconds. By the end of that first film it seemed that the disease had been eliminated – all the infected had starved (for some unknown reason the infected do not eat their own).

Now, six months later, the re-integration of the British public who escaped the rage has begun. A secure section of London is being used to house those returning to the country, under the protective arm of the US occupying forces. However, it isn’t giving too much away to say that the disease finds a way to return and all hell breaks loose once more. Cue lots of running, hiding, blood, and action.

One of the fears that most people had for this sequel was that it would feel too American, due to the number of US actors involved. However the film retains the distinctive British feel to it that the first one had. The US troops seems to be used more as an allegory to how the US always lends its own brand of ‘protection’ in countries at times of struggle. Our first introduction to the troops already highlights the need for things to kill that the soldiers have embedded in them. As the film progresses those very protectors seem to be more dangerous than the rage-zombies themselves.

A few flaws exist within the structure of the film. Some I cannot mention without spoiling the story, but one which doesn’t give too much away involves a pitch black venture into the underground. What is bizarre is that once the group reach the bottom of the escalator descent, there is suddenly a light source – far underground!! The action scenes suffer from the occasional overuse of shaking the camera, which means that some of the horror (and the gore) is dampened.

Nontheless, despite these little hiccups, the film remains a strong sequel, and delivers a powerful impact on the senses. The ending is predictable, but ties it up well. However, I now repeat my mantra of the past and pray that they don’t do another film in the series – they can’t do anything more for it….can they?

rubbish

utter rubbish. The only reason i give it 1 star is for Rob Carlisle, who's just a great actor full stop, and for the occasional inspired bit of camerawork. I say occasional, because most of the camerawork throughout consists of just shaking the thing violently, a repetitious cheap trick, making the viewer nauseous after 30 mins.

The film is simply not a patch on the original - 28 days later. Though chavs and hardcore the zombie fans (i.e. zombies themselves) will probly love it. Otherwise, save your time and don't bother.

Thumbs very down