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Amazon.co.uk Review
Put that cynical look away, because the critics were right. 28 Weeks Later really is a sequel that delivers, that expands on the original, and in many ways even surpasses it.
Faithful in many ways to the enjoyable, if derivative, 28 Days Later, this sequel sees original director Danny Boyle (who went off to make Sunshine instead) replaced by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo behind the camera(director of the excellent Spanish film Intacto). And Fresnadillo is an inspired choice, putting together a film that’s not bereft of flaws of its own, but one that proves to be an ambitious and surprisingly thought-provoking follow-up.
Many of the building blocks are the same. Primarily set over six months after the Rage virus engulfed Britain, turning many of its inhabitants into deadly zombie-esque creatures in the process, the film this time though sees the American military arrive to help sort things out. Only things quickly go wrong, allowing Fresnadillo to mould a pacey, exciting and desperately enjoyable action carnival, that’s got a little more under the surface.
Grounded by Robert Carlyle as one of the survivors of the virus, replete with his kids in tow, 28 Weeks Later skilfully navigates the labyrinth of sequel hell and really, really delivers. What’s more, it opens up the enticing possibility of a further sequel, and on the evidence of this film, that’s a very welcome thought.
28 Weeks Later, like its predecessor, isn’t a film for the faint-hearted, and wholesome family entertainment it absolutely isn’t. But it’s a very good, energetic horror movie, and far, far better than you might've originally given it credit for. --Jon Foster
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast flowing horror thriller,
By Stampy (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: 28 Weeks Later [DVD] [2007] (DVD)
In the sequel to 28 days later, the rage virus has passed, the infected have all died and Americans come to England to restore the country.
28 days later showed the true ideology of horror, and British cinema at its best, and 28 weeks later outshines its predecessor with faster direction, closer looks at characters and a more action thriller typed genre to its plot. Following on from the dramatic ideology of 28 days with the infected was brilliant, and we start by looking at another family who are hiding, in the complete darkness. The narrative never lacks, with the whole concept of danger keeping you on the edge of your seat all the way through. Not necessarily scary, but it will definitely play on your mind. The ending with the new stadium felt like a marketing promotion, but was still good to watch. The plot has action, suspense and drama, to make an ultimate thriller, with plenty of gory blood encoded for dramatic effect, which is helped along by stunning direction. Danny Boyle's direction in 28 days was superb, unusual and different, particularly the opening sequences as the central character is alone in England, with the character a little man in a huge city. Fresnadillo's direction in this sequel is equally impressive, using similar shots to create the lonely and deserted effect. In contrast Fresnadillo's direction is faster and less focused, especially when the infected are involved, conforming brilliantly to the horror thriller genres. These films wouldn't have had the same impact if this style of direction hadn't been encoded, and is a film where you can really appreciate the atmospheric view of the situation. Having Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting) star gave the film the extra credit it needed, with a fine performance as Don. He did exceptionally well, and gave a different and intriguing portrayal as a struggling family man. Carlyle is helped along by stunning performances by all cast, but in particular Muggleton and Poots, who play Don's kids, two of the best young performances you will ever see in a British film, only behind Tom Turgoose in This is England. 28 weeks later is a fine sequel, fast and flowing, and though not necessarily scary, is a thoroughly entertaining British film. 8.5/10
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a rarity in horror,
By bizmandan (staffordshire, england) - See all my reviews
This review is from: 28 Weeks Later [Blu-ray] [2007] (Blu-ray)
The infected are back, and with them the core creative forces behind 28 Days Later , to offer a true rarity in the world of horror sequels, a film that nearly eclipses its predecessor on all counts.While die-hard Boyle fans may initially dismiss this sequel due to the fact that the visionary director opted not to reprise his role at the helm, a quick glance at the credits reveals that not only did he remain onboard as executive producer, but the original producer, original screenwriter and even the original composer, whose swelling score effectively drives home the emotion of the smaller, quieter moments while seamlessly sweeping the viewer up in the action scenes, all saw fit to remain on board in order to keep the machine running smoothly. Throw into the mix a promising director and you have the perfect recipe for a sequel that impressively maintains the aesthetics and intimate feel of the original while subtly expanding on the mythology in a manner that, while impossible to discuss without resorting to spoilers, feels both fluid and organic. Though this sequel has a handful of eyebrow-raising issues, the overall result is a thinking person's "zombie apocalypse" a flick that maintains an impressive emotional core while never losing sight of its genre roots. The directors abilities may not yet be honed to the fine point that Boyle's were by the time he took on the infected, but he does display an impressive ability to conjure convincing performances from his players; Robert Carlyle in particular hits all the right notes as a survivor of the original outbreak whose fate is sealed by a particularly blameworthy act of cowardice. Whereas the director could be accused of relying too much on the eye-straining technique of camera jostling when things take a turn for the worse and the infection remerges, it's hard to argue that the technique doesn't effectively convey the chaos that characters experience when trapped between trigger-happy snipers and teeth-gnashing zombies. Even when the technique is more restrained, however, the direction has the ability to make the viewer believe the situation is calm before pulling back to reveal that things aren't quite what they seem and it goes a long way in driving home the disorienting volatility of such an explosive scenario. In terms of screenwriting, the story is full and rich and nicely balanced so it doesn't bore us with re-visited details of the last film but gives us enough depth so newcomers to the Franchise can understand what is going on. This results in the creation of characters that are identifiable and sympathetic, and unrelentingly tense situations that truly fray the nerves. In the end 28 Weeks Later is a film that's likely to be as polarizing for many viewers as its predecessor was due to its unique experimentation with genre standards. Weeks impressively expands on the ideas of Days while upping the scale and terror ante, and actually attempts to stimulate thought rather than insulting the viewer's intelligence, there's quite a bit to like about this vicious little screamer.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The guts and the ingloriousness,
By
This review is from: 28 Weeks Later [DVD] [2007] (DVD)
Danny Boyle directed 28 Days Later, and he exec-produced this sequel as part of his burgeoning partnership with Alex Garland. Directing duties fell to Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, creator of 2001's ingenious Intacto. He stamps his authority on the picture with a startling opening sequence: a dizzying attack on a country farmhouse, which not only violently reminds us that these are far from George Romero's shambling knuckle-draggers, but also that anyone - man or woman, young or old - is fair game. It sets the tone. It sets the rules.
Next we're thrown into a grimy, semi-deserted London (reminiscent of another Spanish-speaking director's apocalyptic vision, Children of Men). It's here that Tammy (Imogen Poots) and Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton) arrive to meet their father, Don (Robert Carlyle). But something is rotten as a corpse within the family unit, and the kids take it upon themselves to sneak out of the militarised zone to put a full-stop on their unfinished childhood. What they discover unleashes hell, and it's up to the US occupying forces, led by a stolid Idris Elba, to quash the infected insurgency. The film's early sequences contain some creepy, classical horror imagery, usually concerning Catherine McCormack's stricken Alice, before the film gives way to a series of expansive, logic-be-damned action set-pieces. As a marriage of styles it's not quite as broken as Alice and Don's, but it makes the film feel lopsided. While The Walking Dead proves that the zombie holocaust genre hasn't really the flesh to fill a whole series, an extra 20 minutes wouldn't have gone amiss from 28 Weeks, just to add a little meat to the bony characters - particularly Jeremy Renner's pragmatic Doyle, who seems to be riding on a kind of Hurt Locker zephyr, but with hints of a heart. Rose Byrne, likewise, as Scarlet, can only show a glimmer of the utilitarian behind the perma-frown. There's no profundity on offer here, just basic moral dilemmas as fleeting as a moving target in a gun sight. At a push there's a veiled allegory about post-war Britain's reliance on the US; and moreover, particularly in one barmy sniper sequence, a crack at repeated "friendly fire" debacles in the theatres of madness mired in the Middle East. But it's really about the visceral thrills. Like its predecessor, budget restraints are a blessing not a curse, forcing imaginative film-craft and rabid performances into the space that, one fears, CGI excess will occupy when the infection extends to 28 Months.
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