[Review] 28 Weeks Later (2007) | Zombie Horror

[Review] 28 Weeks Later (2007) | Zombie Horror | Sequel

28 Weeks Later (2007) is a post-apocalyptic zombie outbreak horror film directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, which serves as a direct sequel to the 2002 classic. The film’s screenplay was written by Rowan Joffé, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, E.L. Lavigne & Jesus Olmo, and produced by
Enrique López Lavigne, Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, 28 Weeks Later features a brand new cast of characters. Starring Robert Carlyle as Don, Rose Byrne as Scarlet, Jeremy Renner as Doyle, Harold Perrineau as Flynn,
Imogen Poots as Tammy, Mackintosh Muggleton as Andy, Catherine McCormack as Alice, & Idris Elba as Stone.

The film was made on a budget of $15 million.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

28 Weeks Later (2007) Synopsis:

When days turn to weeks…

Twenty-eight weeks after the spread of a deadly rage virus, the inhabitants of the British Isles have lost their battle against the onslaught, as the virus has killed everyone there. Six months later, a group of Americans dare to set foot on the Isles, convinced the danger has passed. But it soon becomes all too clear that the scourge continues to live, waiting to pounce on its next victims.

28 Weeks Later (2007) Review:

As I mentioned in my 28 Days Later (2002) Review, I’m catching up on this franchise in anticipation of the release of 28 Years Later (2025). The film is out in the US, and a third sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is set to release next year. So here we are…

28 Weeks Later (2002) starts off with a bunch of survivors preparing to have dinner. When the infected break through, Don (Robert Carlyle) abandons his wife Alice (Connie McCormack) and ends up being the sole survivor of the group.

Robert Carlyle as Don, escaping the infected

After this tense prologue, title slates explain the timeline since the initial outbreak of the Rage Virus. By 11 Weeks, all the infected have starved to death. NATO takes control of Britain and begins rebuilding. 28 Weeks Later, a small refugee colony with amenities, heavily guarded by the US military, welcomes in citizens who were out of the country during the outbreak. This includes Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton) & Tammy (Imogen Poots), Don’s children.

Don lies to his kids about their mother’s true fate. They realise they can never go back to their own house. Andy feels terrible about not even having a picture of their deceased mother. So, Don & Tammy sneak into the infected area to retrieve the photo. What they find is their mother, still alive and in a delirious state.

The military intervenes and rescues all three. Dr Scarlet (Rose Byrne) discovers that Alice has some kind of gene that makes her immune. However, immunity doesn’t stop her from being a carrier. The virus breaks out. Chaos ensues.

A Great Premise, Muddled By Poor Writing

My biggest concern was that it was a sequel written by 4 names. Rarely do things written by so many different people feel coherent and compelling. Alas, I was absolutely right.

While the opening scene was tense and beautiful, it was the only part of the film to feel real. Every other scene felt very fabricated in a studio-driven manner. Also, turns out that Danny Boyle directed the prologue, so… that makes sense.

The idea of a colony being rebuilt, the heavy militarisation and the clinical research facilities all make up for a logical next step in this story. The treatment they received, and the shift it brings to the film’s overall aesthetic actually were something I appreciated. At the start.

But then, some of the plot points were so poorly developed that they felt outright stupid. The heavily militarized facility fails to stop two kids from sneaking past soldiers until it’s too late? Don sees his wife and decides making out with her is a good idea? She was stuck in the infected zone for WEEKS. Also, no one is guarding this woman, which isn’t just human incompetence, it’s plot convenience. There’s believable stupid, and then there’s this.

If you think about it, most of this film’s writing has the laziness of a cash-grab sequel. The very kind that takes its audiences for granted. The film tries really hard to imitate Boyle & Garland’s original, but fails to create the same tense atmosphere, whilst telling a story that has heart and logic. And speaking of imitation—

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness. – Oscar Wilde

Rose Byrne as Scarlett, Jeremy Renner as Doyle, Mackintosh Muggleton as Andy & Imogen Poots as Tammy

The prologue has a unique feel to it (because of Boyle, I’m guessing). Everything that comes after has the feel of something that’s trying to be unique. Except, it just feels generic. From the forced familial conflict to the heavy militarisation and research lab scenes, everything is a little more than what they show. The military is a bunch of dudes with guns. The scientists sort of speak like doctors, but don’t behave like them. However, none of it really feels real.

What’s worse? There’s no emotional grounding to the film. In 28 Days Later, you had Jim coming to terms with his parents’ suicide. It was gut-wrenching, but he moved on despite it because he needed to survive. In 28 Weeks Later, emotion supersedes logic because that’s what the plot demands.

The film resorts to many of the stylistic choices of its predecessor—shaky footage, dramatic lighting, moody music—but none feel authentic. The stupid decisions and plot points are in place to justify cool shots and scenes. Jump scares make the film feel less serious. And overall, 28 Weeks Later just feels like another generic horror film.

I’ll admit, the OST was beautiful, but overused. 28 Weeks Later isn’t a bad film. It is, however, a disappointingly mediocre film. This isn’t even the sequel problem. This is what you get when uncaring studio executives rush through a project hoping that the success of its predecessor will be enough for this mediocre sequel to succeed.

28 Weeks Later (2007) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

Lots of senseless escape scenes. Doyle sacrifices himself because ‘humanity’. Scarlet’s death actually did feel real. But then we see an infected Don stalking Andy. Don does bite Andy, but Tammy lies to Andy saying he isn’t infected.

They rendezvous with Flynn, who learns that they are the only two survivors. He airlifts them in his helicopter to Paris. 28 Days Later… the infection has spread to mainland Europe.

The film ends with a bunch of infected rushing towards the Eiffel Tower.

I don’t know why I even included this ‘ending explained’ section, because the film is pretty straightforward. The idea was great, but this film could’ve been an email.

The infected rushing towards the Eiffel Tower

Is 28 Weeks Later (2007) worth watching?

Not really. Since its release, many better films have graced theatres and OTT platforms that are better uses of your time.

28 Weeks Later (2007) is not a bad film per se. But, there were many frustratingly stupid narrative decisions which derail the film’s seriousness. Plus, this sequel very much feels like a pale imitation, because it is.

It’s maybe worth watching once if you’re an absolute completionist. Otherwise, I’d argue 28 Weeks Later is mediocre enough to be skipped.