28 DAYS LATER... - Bitesize Review # 15

28 DAYS LATER... **½

UK: Danny Boyle, 2002.
Format: Original Theatrical Release

Note: My bitesize review was originally published by the Kent Messenger Newspaper Group (5.12.2002) and refers to the theatrical run of the film.

Director Danny Boyle has struggled to match the power and originality of his first two features Shallow Grave and Trainspotting. In his latest effort, 28 Days Later... the protagonist Jim, played by impressive newcomer Cillian Murphy, awakens from a coma to find his London hospital devastated and empty. Outside the capital itself is deserted.

When Jim meets Selena (Naomie Harris) we learn a fatal and highly contagious virus called "Rage" has all but transformed Britain into a post-apocalyptic war zone. The virus locks the infected into a permanent state of murderous rage. After joining up with Frank (Brendan Gleeson) and his young daughter Hannah (Megan Burns) the desperate band set off to salvage a future.

28 Days Later... is effectively a contemporary reworking of the zombie movie sub-genre of horror. Writer Alex Garland, author of bestselling novel The Beach, manages to create characters for which the audience feels sympathy and director Boyle employs his repertoire of frenetic action shots with enthusiasm and gusto.

However, one can't help but feel disappointed overall when the film begins so intriguingly only to lose its way later on. Not least in its finale, whereby, a digression into a military run prison facility leaves one feeling they have watched two halves of separate films sewn together with the thread highly visible to all.