#SHOWBIZ: '28 Years Later', the apocalypse gets grittier

New Straits Times

4 days ago

THE zombie genre took a fresh turn back in 2002 with '28 Days Later'. After years of anticipation, the long-awaited third chapter in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's iconic "Rage Virus" saga, '28 Years Later', has succeeded in presenting another fresh cinematic spectacle.
It's a visceral, thought-provoking, and often stunning return to the ravaged British Isles.
The film largely delivers a potent punch, cementing its place as a significant entry in the horror landscape and a worthy successor to its terrifying lineage.
From the get-go, Boyle, back in the director's chair, along with screenwriter Garland, plunges us into a world that is both uncomfortably familiar and starkly new.
Set nearly three decades after the initial outbreak, the film trades the urban desolation of London for the isolated, haunting beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
This shift in scenery is immediately impactful, establishing a pervasive sense of dread and poetic isolation that's visually arresting.
Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, who earned an Oscar for his work on Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire', once again crafts an apocalyptic world where "death is beautiful" and nature has reclaimed its pristine glory, all captured through a blend of traditional and experimental techniques, including astonishing multi-iPhone camera rigs that deliver surreal, bullet-time-like action sequences.
At its core, '28 Years Later' pivots from broad survival horror to a more intimate, character-driven drama.
The premise, focusing on an island boy, Spike (Alfie Williams), and his father, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), as they navigate this perilous new existence, provides a compelling emotional anchor.
Williams, in particular, emerges as the film's beating heart, delivering a quietly powerful and emotionally resonant performance that belies his feature debut.
Possessing range and screen presence, he stands toe-to-toe with seasoned actors.
Jodie Comer, as Isla, brings a raw vulnerability to her role, particularly in a memorable, intense sequence. Taylor-Johnson plays Jamie with a believable mix of control and buried desperation, portraying a father striving to prepare his son for a world he barely comprehends himself.
In a brief but impactful appearance as the reclusive Dr Kelson, even Ralph Fiennes manages to mold his character into the film's unexpected emotional core, reflecting the cold practicality and underlying warmth born from isolation.
However, this ambitious narrative approach sees the story, at times, struggling to maintain cohesion, evolving into what feels like "three distinct parts that could well be three different films" that shift tonally, with the past sometimes failing to inform the present seamlessly.
The pacing, while initially taut and intriguing, can become scattered in the latter half, leading to a few moments where the narrative logic strains credulity.
Some might feel that the movie "goes downhill" after a strong first hour, becoming "confusing" or not what is expected from the franchise.
But when it comes to the horror, Boyle and Garland do not shy away from the gruesome.
The "infected" are as fast and relentlessly terrifying as ever, but '28 Years Later' pushes the envelope further. The film introduces chilling evolutions of the Rage Virus, including the lumbering "Slow Lows" and the more intelligent, pack-leading "Alpha" infected.
These new variations add fresh layers of visceral terror and unpredictable threats, which would keep audiences on edge.
The action sequences are brutally effective, enhanced by Boyle's signature kinetic style and inventive camera work that ensures every moment of chaos is felt.
The horror here is less about jump scares and more about pervasive dread, coupled with explicit, gut-churning gore.
Beyond the scares, '28 Years Later' attempts to deepen the zombie genre by infusing it with philosophical undertones.
The film explores profound themes of mortality, legacy, and the human response to inevitable death.
The concept of "memento mori" (from Latin, meaning remember you must die) is woven into the narrative, prompting reflection on how we remember the fallen in a world forever changed by contagion.
Overall, '28 Years Later' is an ambitious, visually stunning, and emotionally resonant horror film that takes bold risks while paying homage to the roots of its genre-defining predecessors.
It undeniably succeeds in reinvigorating the post-apocalyptic landscape with fresh nightmares and compelling new stories.
For fans of the franchise and newcomers alike, it's a gripping cinematic experience that promises much for the future of the "Rage" saga.
NOW SHOWING
'28 YEARS LATER'
Directed by Danny Boyle
Starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes
Duration: 115 mins
Classification: 18