Nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide...

28 Weeks Later is the follow-up to 2002's breakthrough Brit-flick, 28 Days Later. The sequel is set six months after the original movie, with the devastating Rage Virus having seemingly burnt itself out through starvation of the infected. All that is left of humanity on British shores is a US protected community of survivors, gradually readjusting to disease-free life on the Isle of Dogs.

Having 'lost' his wife to the last few zombies roaming the Britsh countryside, a haunted Don (Robert Carlyle) is emotionally reunited in the quarantine centre of Canary Wharf with his two children, Tammy and Andy. At this point, all seems hopeful, though the oncoming threat never fades entirely from the screen. Don's subsequent explanation to his children over the death of their mother sets in motion a chain of events which eventually leads to the resurrection of the virus with horrific results.

From the word go, this is a thrilling and engaging ride. The acting is superb, with astonishingly competent roles from the young leads, Imogen Poots (Tammy) and Mackintosh Muggleton (Andy). Everyone here is on good form, their roles totally believable in a movie that presents the audience with as much emotion as it does gore. There is, of course, plenty of the latter, and enough shocks to keep the most jaded of audiences on the edge of their seats.

Where 28 Days... perhaps suffered from an overlong script and rambling plot, 28 Weeks... more than delivers on the flawed promise of the original. The desolate streets of a ravaged London are as cleverly filmed as before, and the zombies even more terrifying. The pace fairly rattles along, never giving the audience a chance to get comfortable or feel safe, while presenting a solid storyline and enjoyable characters one truly hopes will endure the trials thrown at them.

Ultimately, 28 Weeks Later is everything a horror movie should be. It thrills, it spills and it oh-so-chills. Make no mistake, parts of this movie are deeply affecting - and not only in a blood-and-guts way. From Robert Carlyle's conscience-stricken father, to the military decision for a London Code Red, and on to the eventual strafing of Canary Wharf, this movie has at its heart a real sense of desolation and encroaching fear.

It has been a very long time since I watched a horror movie that actually came up with the goods in the fright department. The fact that 28 Weeks Later is primarily a British movie makes it something our homegrown industry should be proud of. Hackneyed Hollywood could learn more than a thing or two from its delivery, realism and characterisation.

28 Weeks Later is as fresh and infectious as the blood gushing all over the screen. It also fulfills that rare criteria of being a sequel which easily betters its predecessor. It ends with plenty of elbow room for a 28 Months Later, and based on this effort, that is something that all real horror fans can look forward to.

The Exploding Boy 2007

Where 28 Days... perhaps suffered from an overlong script and rambling plot

Hmm, i enjoyed 28 days but it wasn't as good as i expected and i think you've nailed its problems.

I'm going to see 28 weeks next week and can't wait, your review has confirmed everything else i've heard about it.

Hubbie and i fancied a horror at the weekend, so we got out Day of the Dead, which neither of us had seen -

*chuckle*

Sadly it is so dated now - i don't now whether it was scarey when it came out, but what with the over made-up zombies and plastic arms being sawn off, and as for that zombie they tried to befriend who saluted - *chuckles again* - i'm more scared by that Mattessons advert where the people at the busstop try to steal that guy's snacks...

good review, can't wait to see it.

Casey

Pah! Mutter mutter grumble, Casey.

Thanks for the review. I shall definitely go see this.

Kate, i did refrain from mentioning names

Casey

Imogen Poots and Mackintosh Muggleton? Are you serious?
I also thought 28 days later was flawed. Shaun of the Dead is much better. I saw Severance the other day, speaking of Brit horror flicks, and while it starts out quite brilliant, it flobbles off half-way through... bit like 28 days later.

I've watched 28 Days... twice over the weekend. I wanted to get up to speed, but while it's still a bold fresh approach to the zombie genre, it really does waffle a bit. The ending with the army blokes in the house seems a bit 'taped on', and there's no doubt in my mind at least that 28 Weeks... is by far the superior film.

Yes! Poots and Muggleton! Sounds quite Potter-esque, doesn't it?

JB

Saw this tonight and have to admit was a bit disappointed in the scares department.

Excellently shot and directed, far superior to 28 days, but for me more of a cross between a disaster movie (virus wipes out uk population) and thriller.

Enjoyed it all the same but didn't come out in goosebumps.

Casey

Hi Casey

Yes, it's more of a thrill ride than a horror per se, but for me, the real horror was in the way the authorities dealt with the outbreak. The underground bits were pretty chilling though, I thought.

JB

Yeh, agreed, one cock-up after another.

I thought the beginning and end were fantastic and liked the way the zombie bits were kinda blurred, really made you feel the chaos.

And as for Robert....superlative performance.

Casey

Just good to watch a decent film for once. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that all the supposed summer blockbusters - Pirates, Oceans, Spiderman - a load of complete rubbish?

JB

Have to say I loved pirates

Amazing the number of trilogies though - Pirates, Shrek, Superman - apparently Shrek 4 is already being written because for the Hollywood moguls it's a sure thing - but then Hollywood has always been about business, as opposed to the european and British film industries.

Casey

<Added>

I mean Spiderman - and Ocean's, come to think about it

Can't wait for Shrek 3, and loved the news that Puss in Boots is going to have his own movie! That character is fab, especially when he makes the cutie pie face!

Admittedly, I've not seen Pirates, but the last one was bum-numbing in my opinion. I meant all the reviews for these movies have been pretty bad.

JB

I don't think you'll like the 3rd one then, JB, at 3 hrs long.

My only disappointment with it was the plot was far more complex than the other 2 films, tying up a lot of ends, and consequently my kids, the bread and butter audience for these movies, were a bit disappointed, they hadn't been able to follow it all.

Yeh, i love that lechy cat's grin - i never realized it was Antonia Banderas.

Casey

If it's entertaining, I don't notice my bum. I just thought Pirates 2 was all over the place, and for some reason, I don't find it remotely amusing. People around me were laughing, and I was just thinking 'you find that funny???'. What's wrong with me?

I may risk 3 on your recommendation, but don't blame me if I give it a critical panning!

Aww, Puss in Boots is so sweet! (and yes, lechy as hell)

Hey, have you watched London to Brighton? I caught it on DVD tonight and thought that was another good British film - although not exactly pleasant.

JB

If it's entertaining, I don't notice my bum.

LOL!

Ooh, no haven't, will keep a look out for that - it looks, er, rather different from the film i saw this week - The Queen - the Royals aren't necessarily my thing but i couldn't download Stranger Than Fiction for some reason so tried her majesty - wonderful performance by Helen Mirren and what most pleased me was that they didn't once show the princes' faces, i thought it was all going to be a bit gratuitous.

I suspect, on the whole though JB, our tastes are very different - i recently saw The Holiday and next on my list is Music & Lyrics

Of course Hubbie and I would appreciate any reccommendation for a recent horror that really will have us hiding behind the sofa...

Casey