When28 Days Laterwas released in 2002, it instantly stood out due toDanny Boyle’s distinctive direction and the innovative approach taken by director and writerAlex Garlandto depict a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a disease that turned the infected into mindless vessels of rage. Shooting a significant portion of the film on a Canon XL1 digital video camera gave the movie an intimate and visceral style that made it stand out.
By making many of these artistic choices,28 Days Laterwas able to redefine and reinvigorate the zombie film genre. When it came to making a sequel, it would’ve been easy to do more of the same, but28 Weeks Laterexpanded the scope set up by its predecessor and offered a different kind of experience. It was well-received upon release, but it can be argued that it doesn’t get nearly as much praise as it should.
Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo from a screenplay he co-wrote with Rowan Joffé, Enrique López Lavigne, and Jesus Olmo,28 Weeks Lateris astandalone sequel to28 Days Laterand takes place after the events of the first film. As the story begins, the United States-led NATO forces are tasked with creating a safe zone in London following the outbreak of the Rage Virus. The safe zone is compromised when two young children exit the area to find a photo of their mother, setting off a series of events that unleash the Rage Virus into the safe zone.
‘28 Weeks Later’ Expands the Scope of the First Film
The first major difference between the two films lies in how they were shot. Repeating the indie gritty style of28 Days Latercould’ve been done, but that would’ve been a gimmick that may not have worked as well twice. Instead of shooting the sequel on a digital video camera,28 Weeks Latergoes a more traditional Hollywood movie route, but that doesn’t mean it lacks the visceral impact of its predecessor.
The opening in particular, which features the infected descending upon Don (Robert Carlyle), Alice (Catherine McCormack), and their family, captures the style that Boyle so expertly executed throughout the first movie (rumor has it that he shot this sequence in the film). Still, it does so with a much larger scope. Even though the sequel was being made for more money ($15 million versus $8 million),28 Weeks Laterstill maintains a sort of indie sensibility while also being able to take things to the next level. Like any good sequel, the film builds upon the ideas and fears established in the first movie.
Bringing in NATO forces adds a more action movie element to the film. Some might think to the detriment of the sequel, but it does what is necessary to expand the reach of the story. If28 Days Lateris a human story of survival,28 Weeks Lateris about a bigger entity stepping in to do what just a few can’t. However, even though the scope of the film is larger, the human element remains in many ways. It’s fitting that all the efforts to rebuild the U.K. and create a safe zone are undone by one man wanting to share a kiss with the woman he loves. Something so human is responsible for unleashing an infection that all these military forces simply can’t contain in the end.
‘28 Weeks Later’ Is Streaming Free To Prepare Everyone for ‘28 Years Later’
The zombie sequel to ‘28 Days Later’ is streaming ahead of the upcoming release ‘28 Years Later.’
Some have argued that the sequel lacks the human element of the first film, but it still retains a sense of humanism that sets it apart. This is a more action-oriented sequel that also amps up the horror element, but it features characters worth caring about. It’s easy to worry about the family that set up the film, particularly the children, as they have endured both of their parents falling prey to the infection. The scene in which Don kisses Alice, becomes infected by her saliva, and kills her wouldn’t resonate as much if the audience weren’t invested in a more positive outcome, due in large part to the performances of Carlyle, McCormack, Imogen Poots, and Mackintosh Muggleton.
In the wake of what happens to Carlyle’s Don in the film,Jeremy Renner’s Delta Force sniper Doyle becomes the de facto lead, and he adds much more depth to a character that would typically be paper-thin in most movies. His character is a nice counterbalance to another one of the film’s running ideas that sometimes military forces exercise more violence to defeat the war on terror (in this case, the infected) and make a human move to help a small group of survivors instead of killing off everyone, as ordered, as chaos begins to ensue. Through a character like this, the sequel can explore other interesting ideas and demonstrate various ideals that may emerge as a situation like this starts to spiral out of control.
‘28 Weeks Later’ Is Brave Enough To Keep Things Bleak
28 Weeks Later
Perhaps one of the bravest things the sequel does, despite appearing like a more Hollywood film than its predecessor, is that it’s not afraid to get bleak and even ends in that manner. Characters who seem to be the heroes of the film throughout often don’t make it out alive, and that adds a very real element to the terror. Tammy and Andy, who are believed to be a source of a cure, represent a bit of hope, but judging by the film’s conclusion, 28 days after the events of the sequel, the virus has spread, so the sequel is brave enough to end thingswithout the traditional happy ending.
Danny Boyle Reveals How ‘28 Weeks Later’s Post-Credits Scene Sets Up the New Sequel
‘28 Weeks Later’s post-credits scene has a dark implication for the future of the franchise.
28 Weeks Laterfared well with critics, securing a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes with a consensus that reads, “While28 Weeks Laterlacks the humanism that made28 Days Latera classic, it’s made up with fantastic atmosphere and punchy direction.” Sadly, many viewers wrongly dismiss it as a mindless action endeavor compared to its predecessor. No one is saying that the sequel is as innovative as the first movie, but it’s certainly a solid companion piece, worthy of being spoken about in the same breath because it’s a natural progression of the first film’s story that works.
With28 Years Laterinvading cinemasand setting up a new trilogy about the infected, fans will likely be revisiting both28 Days Laterand28 Weeks Lateras preparation. Hopefully, time has encouraged fans to regard the sequel as more than just an afterthought. It deserves more than the casual comment of “it’s good, but not as good as the first one.” Speaking just in terms of horror sequels,28 Weeks Laterstands taller than most and, as the sequel to a film that is widely considered a classic, it more than holds its own againstBoyle’s fantastic work.Stream28 Weeks LateronTubiandHulu, and watch28 Years Laterin theaters now.
