ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

‘28 DAYS LATER’ brought some fresh ideas and a touch of British class to the zombie genre. ‘28 Weeks Later’ is an intense, expertly-made sequel with a slapdash plot that doesn’t quite conceal the lack of logic or credibility.

Quality performers like versatile Scot Robert Carlyle and Catherine McCormack help to compensate for the fact that the film has been made with one eye firmly fixed on the box-office.

The Rage virus that filled the streets of Britain with drooling, blood-thirsty zombies has passed. The country is now free from infection and the reconstruction can begin.

Family man Don (Carlyle) is one of the survivors and is thrilled to be reunited with his son and daughter. What the kids don’t realise is that the cowardly Don ran out on their mother, choosing self-preservation over the more noble option of protecting the one he loved.

The decision will return to haunt him as the story unfolds and the virus returns to spread again.

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo made the unusual ice-cool thriller ‘Intacto’. Taking his inspiration from zombie master George A Romero, he fills ‘28 Weeks Later’ with ferocious, heart-stopping scenes of death and gore.

He suggests that if you look beyond the gory surface you might see some interesting political parallels with the situation in Iraq.

The level of ambition may be high but as the bodies fall and the fear rises, you can’t help but conclude that the film is really just an excuse for a second helping of bloodthirsty violence and eerie scenes of deserted London landmarks.

Nationwide release

Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Stars: Robert Carlyle, Catherine McCormack, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, Imogen Potts, Mackintosh Muggleton
Screenwriters: E. L. Lavigne, Rowan Joffe, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Jesus Olmo
Certificate: 15
Running time: 97 mins
Country: UK
Year: 2007

© Allan Hunter, 2007