28 Weeks Later

28 Weeks Later

Directed by: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Starring: Imogen Poots

Genre: Horror

Run Time: 99 min.

Release Date: May 2007

On The Web: Official Site

Teaser: Movie Trailer

Reviewed by Chad Wilson

28 WEEKS LATER, the sequel to the enormously successful 28 DAYS LATER, attempts to sell a more intense experience of a modern Britain devastated by a virus that turns people into mindless, feral killers. The movie offers more visceral thrills and increases the disturbing nature of the virus called "rage", obviously a film with a mission to outdo Danny Boyle's original zombie-film. The result is a sequel worthy of the extra effort invested by director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and a more aggressive horror film.

In 28 Weeks Later, young teen Tammy (Imogen Poots) and her younger brother Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton) manage to make their way to a quarantined area of London controlled by the United States Army some 6 months after the outbreak of a deadly virus among the population of Britain. Tammy and Andy are reunited with their father Don (Robert Carlyle, ERAGON) who explains their mother Alice (Catherine McCormack) was killed by the rampaging virus victims called the infected. Convinced they can make it to their old house, Tammy and Andy escape the quarantine zone and travel through deserted London. US Army doctor Scarlet (Rose Byrne, CASANOVA) and sniper Doyle (Jeremy Renner) go out to rescue the children with the help of helicopter pilot Flynn (Harold Perrineau).

28 Days Later was an instant modern classic when it was released and reinvigorated the zombie-horror film genre. With 28 Weeks Later, director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo attempts to do the original justice by offering a sequel with more action and more violently graphic scenes. This increased intensity serves up more thrills for the audience and the shocking brutality of the infected will frighten even hardened horror fans. When the audience shifts uncomfortably in their seats during a vicious attack from the infected, it helps to sell dangerous situation for our main characters. This sequel is in several ways far more disturbing than the original 28 Days Later and is sure to meet the audience's expectation for horror thrills.

The script for 28 Weeks Later is anything but squeamish and some dire fates await many a victim in this film, but the script is also written cleverly to advance the fiction of the original. A startling discovery takes place in the second act of the film, leading several of the characters down a path that may hold the possibility of a cure to infection. These story elements enhance what could have been a merely mediocre sequel and they also allow some brief moments for the characters to develop during the film's lean 99 minute running time.

With all the strengths of 28 Weeks Later, it is unfortunate that ultimately the film suffers from a few too many flaws. In many ways the fast paced action doesn't allow the audience time to empathize with much of the cast. The horror is no less disturbing because of the brief build up, but the frightening scenes of violence are missing emotional depth. That lack of emotional attachment to the characters is further damaged by the film's two lead actors Imogen Poots and Mackintosh Muggleton. The weight of the entire film rests upon their shoulders, but their performances lack the ability to properly engage the viewer and thus there is no anchor that would invest the audience in the plight of our heroes. 28 Weeks Later is sadly without a strong performance by a sympathetic character that can carry the story through from beginning to end.

28 Weeks Later is a more intelligently written and engaging story than the average horror movie, but falls short of the high benchmark set by its predecessor, 28 Days Later.