Retro Horror Review: ’28 Days Later’ and the Search For Life at the End of the World
Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of Danny Boyle’s film 28 Days Later. Reader Beware Spoilers Ahead!
If the last year and a half has taught us anything, it’s that we’re not prepared for an outbreak or virus released into this world. Be it politics, human nature, fear, no matter what the reasons, humanity can’t come together as one to challenge something that has uprooted our lives. During the lockdown, one movie kept coming up so I decided to revisit it. That film is Danny Boyle’s (Trainspotting) groundbreaking 2002 28 Days Later that asks “what If” an infectious pandemic gets unleashed on the public and ends the world as we know it.
Screen writer Alex Garland (The Beach) wrote this terrifying scenario based on real world outbreaks that had been plaguing the livestock of United Kingdom at the time. At the start, scientists are experimenting and trying to find a cure for rage. They have been using chimpanzees as test subjects and infecting them with a manufactured rage virus. When a group of Eco terrorists break in to liberate these animals, they unwittingly unleash the virus to themselves and soon after the rest of the country and then the world.
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Jim (Cillian Murphy: Batman Begins, Peaky Binders) wakes up in a hospital completely alone after suffering injuries due to a traffic accident that has left him in a coma. He doesn’t realize the scope of his situation until we see him wandering the streets of London completely empty of life in some of the most visually stunning images of 28 Days Later. As someone who has wandered these same locations, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Bridge and Big Ben, full of crowds and the hustle and bustle of life, it’s quite daunting to see it empty like this.
Even after reading the headlines in a newspaper blowing by, and seeing the missing persons wall, the reality of his situation doesn’t hit home until he finds himself in a church full of bodies piled in the pews. After calling out “hello” the real threat makes itself known and begins to chase him.
Saved by two masked figures who drag him into the London Underground to hide, we are introduced to Selena (Naomie Harris: Skyfall, Spectre) and Mark (Noah Huntley: Dracula Untold), who begins with “Jim, I’ve got some bad news”. After a brief about the situation of the world, they deliver their rules for survival; never travel alone, and only travel during daylight.
Selena, distant, hard shelled survivalist, also explains the fact that once infected there are less than 20 seconds before one will change and no matter who becomes infected you must kill them in that time frame. I like the fact that the rules are set up early so there aren’t any troupes of someone hiding a bite or finding ways to slow down the transformation as we’ve seen in other films in this genre. Also when someone you root for goes, it’s as jarring for the audience as the characters as it happens in an instant.
Always on the move, they come across a tower block with a ‘Morse code’ signal in Christmas lights and go to investigate. It’s here they meet Frank (Brendan Gleeson: In Bruges, Braveheart) and his daughter Hanna (Megan Burns) hiding out at the top of the building. Surviving, but not living, they hear a message on the radio calling for survivors to come to Manchester and the 42nd blockade, with the ominous declaration of “salvation is here”. Reluctant but hopeful they set off in Frank’s taxi in the direction of the broadcast in search of hope and maybe an answer to this pandemic.
Underground tunnels swarming with packs of infected, country side picnics under forgotten ruins, a gas station confrontation and more await them on their journey. The group begins to form a family, test their instincts and realize that there may be more to life than just survival. But it isn’t until they reach their destination that they realize some of the worst horrors aren’t caused by any virus, but by man himself.
One thing that was revolutionized in 28 Days Later is the notion that “zombies”, although referred to as “the infected”, can run. Up until this point they had always been slow moving, which was fearful, but being chased by the dead at full sprint is terrifying. They have one purpose, and it’s like going up against a rabid animal, that even after being set ablaze still comes for its prey.
The cinematography was all done on digital video, giving the film a grainy, dirty, documentary feel that adds to the realism and horror of what we’re witness too. There is a distinct tonal shift in the latter part of 28 Days Later, but it feels necessary to examine the breakdown of polite society when opportunity arises for people to take advantage of a disaster for their own self-interest. It goes from a journey story to a revenge picture, but still very satisfying.
Fans of the Zombie genre will love this movie. It gave way to characteristic of modern walking dead stories while acknowledging the classics that came before. Though very character driven, the story is engaging and all too terrifying given todays climate. It’s a cautionary tale of how easily we can slip into madness and brutality if we let fear control our actions. And It shows the best humanity has to offer in times of peril and how even in the worst of times you can still find purpose and something to live for. 4.5/5
28 Days Later starring Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson and Naomie Harris is now streaming on Paramount+. Be sure to follow ScaryNerd for more of all things horror, sci-fi and more.
About Post Author
K.B. O’Neil is an artist, writer and musician living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He loves movies, books, video games, snuggling his two pups and all things Horror. When not working he can be found getting into adventures with his wife and their new daughter.
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