28 Weeks Later Review

Written by: rerj73   

    I'm sure I'll take some heat for not caring for this film as so many on the boards do, but 28 Weeks Later failed to impress.  I should add that I was not a huge fan of 28 Days Later, either, so perhaps I am simply missing the boat on another film.  I love the first halves of both of these films, but feel that they are unable to sustain through the run times.

    Without going into too much summary, as most undoubtedly know the basic storyline of this film, I will say that 28 Weeks Later picks up essentially where 28 Days Later left off.  The expansion of the storyline examines the re-introduction of civilians back into the British Isles in the wake of the original outbreak.  The criticism of American involvement in foreign affairs is thinly veiled, but deftly handled in the introduction.  In fact, I believe that good horror films should transcend the scares and try to say something about culture in a way that other genres cannot.

    My issue with this film comes in the form of the Robert Carlyle character, the father who impotently abandoned his wife during an attack set in the original 28 days.  I have no issue with the fate of this character, but rather with the implication that, while infected, has retained some of his humanity and is determined to track down his children.  That left me with a big, "Why?"  Why is he more human than others?  Why is he targeting his children?  Recognition?  Freudian issues?

    Also, the film attempts to be rooted in a pseudo-realism that is lost entirely during a helicopter scene that echoes the more fun and over-the-top Planet Terror.

    Enough criticism.  There is enough to recommend this film that it is certainly a worthwhile viewing.  A scene in the underground, lit only by the night vision scope of a rifle, is creepy and effective.  The final scene is haunting and exhilarating.  Like the first film, i found myself wishing the film had not devolved into a monster chase movie, but had clung to the higher-order fright film that it promised to be in the opening scenes.