28 Weeks Later (DVD)

...under the Science Fiction/Horror Genre. 28 Weeks Later is a higher budget, post apocalyptic sequel to the International film success of 28 Days Later which was released in 2002. 28 Weeks Later picks up where the last story left off. Though not a direct sequel, 28 Weeks features a different set of people, in similar circumstance. Director Danny Boyle was unable to direct 28 Weeks, due to other work commitments, but became Executive Producer on this ...
...an entirely new cast on 28 Weeks Later, and plans have been made to create a third chapter, and make this film francise into a Trilogy, with 28 Months Later, which Boyle would direct, and which is hopefully due to be released in 2009, with Russia set as the backdrop. ~


















=== Synopsis ===

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◘► Released in 2007 under the Science Fiction/Horror Genre. 28 Weeks Later is a higher budget, post apocalyptic sequel to the International film success of 28 Days Later which was released in 2002. 28 Weeks Later picks up where the last story left off. Though not a direct sequel, 28 Weeks features a different set of people, in similar circumstance. Director Danny Boyle was unable to direct 28 Weeks, due to other work commitments, but became Executive Producer on this film, and he hired Juan Carlos Fresnadillo as Director, after seeing his work on the 2001 film 'Intacto'. This would be Juan's first time directing an English language film. Boyle did keep in touch though by becoming 2nd unit Director. There is also an entirely new cast on 28 Weeks Later, and plans have been made to create a third chapter, and make this film francise into a Trilogy, with 28 Months Later, which Boyle would direct, and which is hopefully due to be released in 2009, with Russia set as the backdrop. ~

Synopsis

The film opens to the striking of a match. The house is in darkness, save for a few candles. The scene is a cottage somewhere in the country. The mood is subdued, and serious, and a husband and wife are preparing a dinner of tinned tomatoes in the kitchen. They appear to be getting low on rations, and the wife mentions "We are onto chick peas next". Which puts into the mind that they have been 'holed up' here for quite some time. The setting is bleak, and the atmosphere has an underlying sense of real fear about it. There are three other people in the house, and these people are the only survivors of the 'Rage' virus which has wiped out the population of Great Britain six months previously. They go about the making of dinner, quietly, and there is a feeling in the way the scene is set, and portrayed, of 'The last supper'. - The musical score is sombre, even rhythmed and repetitive, having the same impact as the Jaws theme, giving a sense of foreboding, and impending danger to the proceedings. The house is still, quiet, people are afraid to speak, except for essential statements. It is grim, stark and frightening.

As the music mounts in volume, and pace, the quietness is broken by the sound of a child screaming outside their door. The cameras jerk into action, as they spin and shake, portraying the ensuing panic, and terror. The music swells, and confusion , and chaos break out within the house. Should they open the door? Is it really a child outside? Or is it a trick? - The child screams louder, and the inbred urge to help a child in need takes over, and they open the door. The brightness of the outside sky hurts their eyes, and they shield it from them. They have obviously not seen daylight for quite some time. They pull the child inside quickly, and he tells of the infected, who have chased him here. In realisation, the household now knows it is only a matter of time before they are tracked down, and the sheer terror of this situation sinks in, and acceptance of what is to come grips them with a stark horror. - The ending of this first scene will shock and disturb, and it is the key to a horrific turn later on in the film.~

My Opinion.

What happens next, and throughout the film is totally gripping. This is an excellent story, and film. I liked the fact that the actual use of the appearance of the 'infected person' was at a minimum, the effect of fear was produced more by the thought of seeing one appear, than the actual embodiment of the infected. This film was more physcological in it's intent. It works on the unseen. Leaving our imaginations to do the rest, which is definitely more frightening than the actual sight of person infected with 'Rage' roaming around. There is one amazing scene of an infected at work, doing it's worst, and it's realism and sheer believability at what you were witnessing was very frightening indeed. The tension builds throughout the film, and the haunting music plays a huge part with it's rhythm and pace leading us through the unfolding story. The music lets us know when something is about to happen. There is a total change to the style of music about a quarter of the way through, when it becomes tranquil, serene, calm, lulling us into a false sense of security. It is very cleverly done, and leads us into a very shocking twist in this tale. The music leads us into the depth of this harrowing story, and back out again. The film makes the events being shown appear extremely realistic, and somehow believable.

The film has a futuristic feel and look to it, though the people are modern day. It is stylishly directed, it's slick, and beautifully shot. The camera work is expert. Much use is made of the handheld camera technique which works really well in this type of film. The shaky camera work adds realism to the scenes, and the quick cuts, pick up the panic, and confusion really well. I like the use of these methods. They bring an authenticity to the film, and a documentary feel. Very much as if you are part of the film, rather than just observing it. The US military presence had been drafted in to re-construct the City of London, and to repatriate it's inhabitants onto the Isle of Dogs, which boasted one pub, and one supermarket, and with 15,000 inhabitants already settled in. It made me think... "What if all 15,000 people wanted to go the one pub on the same night?!? There would be chaos! :O - I think what made it more thought rendering for me was the fact that the American army had total control. The scenes showed people being herded back to Britain, from refugee camps abroad, and they were being cleansed, and scanned for any signs of the virus. How terrible it would be for another Country to take control of ours. Would we ever be able to reclaim our Country afterwards? It made me wonder what would happen in a similar scenario? If a virus wiped out almost a whole Nation. It made me feel empty, and helpless. It actually evoked some quite scary thoughts.

This film was very well done, as entertainment, and for me it was thought provoking also. The acting was superb throughout. It just goes to show that without the right actors the whole script and direction would be of no avail. The right actors are all important to a film, as is casting. Get this mix wrong and it can kill a good script. This film had it spot on, and the performance by Robert Carlisle as the main protagonist is second to none. The acting was underplayed, and natural, and I felt as if I was overhearing and observing conversations, and I felt very much at the 'heart' of this film. The realism was to a maximum, and there were some wonderful performances throughout, from all concerned. There were some comedy moments also, not many, but when they did come, at the appropriate moment, they were very welcome, but really only served as the lull before the storm. This film is pretty much full on action throughout, and when it is 'resting', you know it is only because there is a storm ahead. The special effects are extremely impressive, and realistic, with horrific bombings, and disturbing images of fire raging out of control. The ariel photography is brilliant. There are some fabulous ariel shots of buildings, sea, and landscape, and an amazing shot of a helicopter keeping watch over the City of London. Reinforcing the fact, by the camera watching the helicopter watching, that at all times the people are being observed. The photography is stunning throughout in fact. There is a nice use of 'snapshot' photography when the guards look in through the windows of the repats. This voyeuristic quality enhances the fact of a colony under observation, stripped of it's privacy. This is quite a shocking concept to dwell on, and to witness. -

There is horrific brutality, and violence within this film. I had to look away a few times. But this is undoubtably a fantastic film, one of the best I have seen this year. A thriller and a half. The music by John Murphy is outstanding throughout. The film is superbly directed, and the acting is excellent. It had me scared and anxious all the way through. The build up of tension was expert. The film was shot on 35mm film. At times the footage was grainy, in keeping with it's predecessor 28 Days Later, and adding the touch of realism. I feel this higher budget film if far better than 28 Days Later. The characters are well developed in the first half of the film, giving the second half over to sheer action, and thrill a minute cinema. This is a film about survival, self preservation, and how the characters cope with the threat, and attack of the infected, and I was living the fear and terror with them. -

28 days before the film was due to be released in UK cinemas a massive Biohazard sign was projected onto the White cliffs of Dover, which read: "Britain is contaminated¬! Keep out¬!"- The image contained the International Biological hazard symbol. ~

Locations used in London were:

Isle of Dogs, Canary Wharf, Hyde Park, Charing Cross,
Wembley stadium, Millenium Stadium, White cliffs of Dover.
and the final scene was shot in Palais de Chaillot in Paris.

The BBFC rating is 18, due to content of violence and brutality.

DVD Extras:

Code Red. Featurette: The making of 28 weeks later where the director and co writer/producer talk about the making of the film, and how their vision was to to be able to create a film akin to Children Of Men. They also discuss the screenplay and filming of key sequences, particularly the very important opening sequence.

There are two deleted scenes discussed, but it was necessary not to include these scenes to keep the film running smoothly.

The 'Making of' featurette Danny Boyle talks about the alternative ideas they had for a sequel.

The Infected' featurette The extras and choreographers discuss their movements.

Getting into the Action' The filmmakers talk about the fact that 28 Weeks Later has more action and brutality than its predecessor. Also discussed are the methods of filming using handheld cameras to create a more realistic and frightening effect.

In addition to the theatrical trailer, this generous set of extras also includes two episodes of 28 Days Later:

Aftermath, an animated comic book written by Danny Boyle Theatrical Trailer and Alex Garland talk of the virus and the first outbreak in detail.

Cast
Robert Carlyle ... Donald "Don" Harris
Jeremy Renner ... Sergeant Doyle
Rose Byrne ... Major Scarlett Ross
Idris Elba ... Brigadier General Stone
Catherine McCormack ... Alice Harris
Harold Perrineau ... Flynn
Imogen Poots ... Tammy Harris
Mackintosh Muggleton ... Andy Harris
Shahid Ahmed ... Jacob
Emily Beecham ... Karen
Garfield Morgan ... Geoff
Amanda Walker ... Sally

Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Produced by Andrew Macdonald
Allon Reich
Enrique Lopez-Lavigne
Danny Boyle
Alex Garland

Written by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Enrique Lopez-Lavigne
Rowan Joffe
Jesús Olmo

Music by: John Murphy

Cinematography: Enrique Chediak

This DVD available from Play.com for £12.99

Thank you for reading
My last review of 2007.
Electra. ♥ 

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