28 Days Later

Plot

Bicycle courier Jim, wakes up in an abandoned hospital in London having been in an accident.

Finding all of the city deserted and war-torn, he happens across Selena and Mark – who inform him of a virus that acts quickly once infection occurs, turning people into seemingly blood thirsty zombies.

Now they – along with more survivors they locate along the way – try to head toward a possible sanctuary – with the prospects of a cure?

Direction/Cinematography

Directed by Danny Boyle with Cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle. Written by Alex Garland, who I have reviewed his directed film Civil War. Garland and Boyle have worked together extensively, with Boyle having directed Garland’s novel The Beach into a movie (previously reviewed on this site).

The chaotic camera movements never feel overused, (or as I’ve complained in other reviews nauseating), and I loved the use of music – and how it intensifies during some key scenes.

Special mention needs to go to the scene early in the film, where Jim awakens to find London deserted. The filmmakers being able to achieve this in one of the busiest cities on the planet is extraordinary.

Cast/Characters

Future superstar and Oscar winner Cillian Murphy plays Jim, who is presented as an ‘every-man’ at the beginning. As much as I loved the final arc, the believe-ability that someone with his background could overthrow a group of soldiers, you have to suspend belief… but this is a zombie movie…

Naomie Harris plays Selena – the survivor who has been around since the virus took over London.

Brendan Gleeson and Megan Burns play Frank and Hannah, the father and daughter who join Jim and Selena on their journey.

Christopher Eccleston plays Major Henry West, the leader of the surviving soldiers, who take in the group once they get to the sanctuary.

Breakdown

Starting with a ‘prologue’ – we are actually shown the exact cause of the ‘zombie’ infection – where animal rights activists release monkeys that have been infected with the virus.

This cuts to Jim, awakening from a coma – to find the world deserted. This early scene in which he walks through an empty London is technical marvelous in how they were able to stop traffic (literally) in order to film it. The music that slowly increases in volume as Jim becomes more and more frightened by his surroundings is brilliant.

He soon meets Serena and Mark, who allow him to try to find his parents (RIP to them) – and Mark tells his own horror story before he is the first casualty of on screen cast members.

We soon meet Frank and Hannah, a father and daughter who take them in (and need Jim and Serena more than Jim and Serena need Frank and Hannah). Frank and Hannah (especially Frank) represent the humanity within the horrors of the new world. They get to have moments of joy within the madness (the shopping spree), and calm too (seeing the horses). Franks eventual death at something as silly as getting a drop (of tainted blood) in his eye is one of the most devastating deaths in cinema.

There are some great tense moments, that occur over and over – when the zombies show up when you least expect them (or more than likely expect them).

The third act, where the last survivors finally find ‘salvation’ but then discover that the new threat is actually man itself- is well done – especially as the ‘big bad’ is shown to be charismatic and sincere (and brilliantly portrayed by Eccleston).

For me, the stand out line is delivered by one of his men, when they are discussing the ‘return to normality’ and he laments… that in the history of the earth, that humans have only been here a blink of an eye, and us leaving is a return to normality… sends shivers down your spine.

The use of the budget is solid, where the (2001 dollars) $5m has some great explosion, and stunt-work in the back half, and not to mention the brilliant make up for the zombies!

Overall

Well written, directed and performed zombie film – that is genuinely frightening at times. With great characters, you genuinely are heartbroken when some of them fall. Loved the use of music, and calm within the chaos!

This stood as a standalone film until the sequel 28 Weeks later in 2007, and now the series of 28 Years later in the 2020’s .

4.5/5

Please also check out my Podcast on Youtube, where we review a new movie every week! Please subscribe!https://www.youtube.com/@MovieChatswithAntandRy