A complicated smart horror masterpiece. 28 Days Later looks rough but this gives it a low ley documentary style (mixing in news footage helps too); I think sometimes horror works best when it's not too glossy. Curiously I switched my digital copy between standard and high definition and HD has bolder colors and maybe just a little more detail. They gave Cillian Murphy an Oscar 22 years late; he does well as a hapless fellow in a rage world. I appreciate 28DL emphasizing 'rage' is the issue which feels like it gives zombies a more specific emotional resonance. The hauntingly vacant London streets are used wonderfully to plunge us into this world were there are few sensible people (insert your own political/social context). 28DL tackles the carnage with heart and subtlety. One of my favorite scenes is the tire change one that tackles mundane tasks with a zombie state of mind. Perhaps stuff like it's zombie priest is scathing religious commentary intended to cut at religion but handled with stealthy subtlety; but there doesnt seem to be a thesis except maybe misplaced faith in government and the world in general. The characters a free unrestrained from having to cope with others who when they arrive are rageful jerks. Scenes of grocery story restocking are filled with joyful 'no one can tell us anything' abandon hard to replicate in modern life. Maybe I need to live a more 28DL mentality; but with the loveable crew of raggamuffins (+ one cranky dad) there's still a healthy sense of optimism. The second half feels like a different film less whimsical and a descend into grim nihilism. The idea that normal people in a rage filled world must kill is a clever twist that feels like it has more to unwrap. 28DL strikes me as a lot more morally ambiguous than I realized at first; emotional reasoning aside the army people had a point valid in an apocalypse scenario (that they took excess in). Maybe the heros become the villains and take isolation too far.

I started the challenge revisiting this movie. I remember how huge this movie was when it came out. The film had legs, and they milked it by releasing with an alternate ending and everything.

This is definitely two movies, one before meeting up with the soldiers and the one after. I greatly prefer the beginning movie. That feeling of isolation and uncertainty in the opening is so palpable. And the zombie attacks are fast and vicious. The low-budget nature of the film really enhances the feeling of the film and doesn't come off as gimmicky as these things often do.

The back portion always seemed a bit too heavy handed to me. It's like the messaging of the film goes from using a paintbrush to a hammer. Funny enough, though, it didn't feel quite so forced this time. Maybe it's a statement about the state of the world that I didn't find it so far fetched. I say all that as a very general statement and in no way am I trying to start a political debate.

I plan to watch 28 Years Later this month, maybe even tonight, and really looking forward to it. 28 Weeks Later is considered out of continuity now, right?

I think there is a small end segment in 28 Weeks Later that is contradicted somewhat by 28 Years Later; but I also don't think it's a strong enough reason to really consider 28 Weeks Later out of continuity because the films are pretty loosely based in any continuity and all seem like standalone sequels.

I rewatched this film and the sequel when the third film came out and now im watching it again for the October Horror Challenge. This film doesnt lose its impact with multiple viewings. Its well acted, great music and some iconic opening and closing sequences. I do think that the second half isnt as strong as the first half.
9/10

I thought the third film was crap btw

There are several films in the Subset this year where I thought, "wait, that's not been a pick before?"and 28 Days Later is one of them. It's a true modern classic and I look forward to revisiting it with 28 Years Later today.

My snobbery has always prevented me from truly enjoying this movie so I was glad this was on the list. I wanted to see if my tastes have changed or if I became less of a pompous asshole.
I guess the answer is sorta. It is really well written and acted. While I commend what they had to go though to get the desolate shots of London, this looks like absolute garbage. I feel shooting this on a fucking DV camera was a huge mistake.
I still contend these aren’t really zombies, but I fully admit that’s on me.

It's unfortunate that 28 Days Later was filmed using early digital video, as it resembles upscaled VHS, to be honest. Cillian Murphy delivers a fantastic performance as Jim, who, much like Rick in The Walking Dead, finds himself in a lifeless world that seeks to destroy him. Naomie Harris as Selena provides the film with its balance; unlike Jim, she has managed to survive the rage plague through sheer determination and ruthlessness, albeit at the expense of losing her humanity. Together, Jim and Selena create a compelling mix of heart (Jim) and logic (Selena).

In contrast to the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake, where we are meant to feel sorrow for Matt Frewer's character who barely appears, Brendan Gleeson's infection and subsequent death resonate as a genuine loss. Christopher Eccleston is, as always, outstanding in his role as the psychopathic army officer. The soundtrack by Godspeed You Black Emperor adds an incredibly haunting atmosphere to the film. If you want to see an equally insane Eccleston performance, check out an earlier collaboration with director Danny Boyle, Shallow Grave.

While I thought the rage virus was a stupid idea 20 years ago, seeing the state of things in the UK and here in the US, it makes a lot more sense for an infectious agent to allow our inner hate to destroy us.

I'm with you, friend. These are plague victims, not the re-animated carnivorous dead.

This is one of those movies that I can't believe was never used for a subset. It is a top-notch film, one that took the zombie film to new heights. It is really a pandemic film but they are basically interchangeable here. Danny Boyle is a tremendous director and he really shows off his skills here. Cillian Murphy also shows off his talents (in more ways than one) in this film. Brendan Gleeson and Christopher Eccleston also shine in this movie. The movie itself is depressing despite the ending, the horror of man is always difficult to see, especially when it is against a young girl. But they did go with a positive ending which is good. I watched this on AMC+, whose version is roughly one minute longer than the DVD or Netflix's, which is always a plus to me. Thank you tarfrimmer for suggesting this one, it is always a joy to watch.

I get why people use the zombie shorthand, but they definitely aren't that.

As for the state of things, I was just listening to an interview on Fresh Air where the person being interviewed said there's a study that says 1 in 5 U.S. families are currently estranged because of politics and that 60% of Americans believe the biggest problem currently confronting us is our political division. I certainly believe it. This movie definitely seems to tap into that.

I'm very ambivalent about 28 Days Later. On one hand, I'm a huge fan of both director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland, but on the other hand, I don't think that it brings anything new to the genre except for giving "rage" as the cause of the infection. Also, my attitude toward the film may have something to do with my not seeing it for the first time until June of this year. In the 23 years since it first came out, we've been subjected to pretty much every variety of zombie, so all of the original excitement around having fast-moving zombies didn't carry over this late in the game. I'll give it credit for having at least two very effective jump scares, however.

The thing that most irks me about the film is that once the main characters get to the Army encampment, it essentially becomes a remake of George Romero's Day of the Dead, a film that I've grown to dislike more every time that I've seen it. To be totally honest, I liked 28 Weeks Later better than I liked 28 Days Later. I did find that my appreciation for the first film ticked up a notch this go 'round, so maybe I'll come around to the film and be fully on board at some point in the future.

The humans are the real monsters.

Audience:


I'm just kidding, I love this movie. I haven't seen any of the sequels but I'd like to now that Danny Boyle has returned to the series.

I love this movie too! Some of the imagery is so breathtaking. I put in my blu la few years ago to rewatch, and really noticed the degraded visuals. That scenes where they are driving through the country on the way to the military. They pass this huge field of flowers, and it just looks like some kind of impressionists painting. I'm not sure if that was planned! Despite some of the visuals (watched it on Netflix), I really think this movie holds up more than ever. My memory has faded with age, but was the alternate 'more bleak' ending ever used? I remember seeing it, but I wasn't sure if it was as an extra on one of the presentations. I couldn't help but think about the current political situation while watching this movie, and I really needed that hopeful ending. I've been looking forward to the newest one, but may hold off now.

What?! Of course it was on purpose! It's a surrealist, fantastical moment that brings calm in a surreal, furious world!

Glad to see so many thoughts here mirror my own about this movie.

Personally, I think the movie is a fantastic piece of cinema, especially given the budget.

One of my biggest pet peeves with the movie is the actress playing Hannah. She is terrible and almost takes me out of the movie every time she speaks. The other is the picture quality that many have mentioned. I watched this on Netflix, and the transfer looks like an old VHS transfer with a nice coating of mud across it. I know this was shot on DV but is there any way they could clean this up at all? Is there a way to do a 4K transfer on something like this and make it look at least passable? Sometimes a grimy, shitty transfer doesn't necessarily hurt a film (and can even assist it) but that is not the case with this movie.

I really like the RAGE virus zombie story, and these zombies most definitely appear far more dangerous than Romero's. I do feel the movie loses some steam once they get to the compound and I may be the odd man out, but I have ALWAYS preferred the alternate ending with Jim dying. But I always typically prefer the bleaker ending in almost any genre of film. They just seem more realistic.

Chalk me up as another that prefers 28 Weeks Later to this film. The sequel is fantastic and if they took that away because of the piece of shit that is 28 Years Later, then that is a shame.

This movie does remind me of Dog Soldiers (2002), another cheapy horror film from the same year, that punches way higher than its weight class. Both this movie and Dog Soldiers have an intensity that is just on fire. When shit goes down, you feel it in your gut and feel tense even after the scene ends.

I also have to give a shout-out to the music used in this movie. The score by John Murphy is fantastic and the use of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Grandaddy and others is inspired.

Also, John Murphy does the score for 28 Weeks Later and hits the fucking sky with it. Such a fantastic and driving score. They fucked up by not using him in 28 Years Later, but then again, that was the least of their problems with that film.

One last comment...I love the scene where the dad, Frank, give a smile and a wave at the wild family of horses. For some reason, that always hits me in the gut and makes my eyes sting a little. There is a lot you can take from that quiet little scene and interpret it many different ways.

Also features a great song during the credits by Blue States, as well:


Franks's eyes ended up stinging a little, too...