Cert 18
113 mins
BBFC advice: contains very strong language, strong violence and horror
Ok, it is my shame. But, thanks to an everyfilm catch-up, I have redeemed myself.
The fact is that until last week I had not watched Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. Oddly enough, I had seen its sequel but not the original.
What I now know is that a really really good zombie film can be made.
I may be the last person on the planet to watch this but I can say, with fresh eyes, that it is raw, evocative, frightening, superbly directed with high quality acting.
Its opening sets the scene with animal liberation activists setting free chimpanzees from a research establishment despite being warned they are infected with 'rage'.
Boyle then cuts from the chaotic to one man (Cillian Murphy), laying naked on a bed in what then transpires to be an empty hospital in a nearly entirely vacated London.
The remainder of the movie surrounds a battle for survival in which he is joined by Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson (quality Cockney accent from him), Megan Burns and, later, Christopher Eccleston.
Part of the film's brilliance are the post-apocalyptic scenes in London which I now know were filmed with famous backdrops on very early Sunday mornings with incredibly tight deadlines.
The soundtrack which drapes these scenes is both eerie and memorable.
In my view, zombie movies are often lazy, forsaking quality for the obvious horror cliches.
The same could not be said of 28 Days Later. Detail is key to its success. For this reason, one scene involving Gleeson will stick in my mind forever.
28 Days Later was an obvious omission from my own movie history. I am delighted that I have filled this giant gap.
Reasons to watch: probably the best zombie film ever made
Reasons to avoid: a bit hard to stomach on occasions
Laughs: none
Jumps: two
Vomit: bloody gunge rather than vomit
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 9/10
Star tweet
Ken Murray Rewatching 28 Days Later. Even in a movie like this, Danny Boyle uses music better than most directors out there.
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