28 Weeks Later Review
“So fun and such a good follow-up”
Zombie movies happen to be the latest trend in horror these days. Of course this whole concept is owed to good ole George Romero, he of the ______ of the Dead movies. Back a few years ago, many clamored that Danny Boyle and his post-apocalyptic, British zombie flick, 28 Days Later, had reinvented the genre, having the zombies able to run and chase their victim, therefore heightening the tension. While I don’t know if I’d say that the genre was reinvented, it was certainly given a shot of adrenaline and kick ass.
28 Days Later is one of my favorite movies and when I heard about the sequel, I wasn’t amped for it, but would give it a shot. Then of course, being the trailer whore I am, I saw the trailer and really wanted to see it. So sue me. Dear Hollywood, I am a victim of your brilliant marketing schemes that are trailers. Keep in mind also that I was amped to see The Lake House based on the trailer. With trailers, you can’t really ever know.
With this movie, you really can. The trailer was accurate. From the moment the movie started, I had my fingers in my ears. To update readers who haven’t seen a movie with me that involves suspense, I don’t like loud noises. Visual things don’t bother me, but loud noises really scare me. If I don’t filter it, I’ll shit my pants. The first 15 minutes were so visceral and gut wrenching, that I nearly puked. I was so into it. It then segues beauitfully into the next setting of a post infection England and American military occupation of said area. The whole feel of the movie was just so spot on and offered so many cool moments of suspense, horror and action. It really is a total package. The entire mood of the movie is totally set by the director, and maybe even moreso than the original.
The movie doesn’t benefit from the acting talents of the first movie, but certainly doesn’t fall. The acting in this fit the mood and everyone excels in their preformance. My few qualms with the movie could be the deadening of suspense in the middle and a semi-bleh ending. Those were really it though. I also noticed that the production values of this movie were better than the first, which was somewhat of a disservice. I liked the gritty DV feel of the first movie as an aesthetic, but it certainly didn’t effect my overall mood for the movie. There were some spotty moments in acting and pacing and certainly a moment or two that was suspect in the frame of the story, but I was ok with letting them go, they were that minor. I would give this movie a 9 out of 10 Bones for scaring the shit out of me, which considering the fodder I’ve subjected myself to and the recycling of all ideas, is a benchmark for me.
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