“28 Weeks Later” (Fox Atomic)
Same Old Same Old
In 2002 there was a sharp little horror film titled “28 Days Later.” It dealt with an outbreak of a virus in the United Kingdom that turned mortals into zombies. The sequel to that film is out now and it is called “28 Weeks Later.” Once again the virus breaks out and once again there are heroes on the run. It all seems a bit repetitive but if you like blood and horror in ample doses you should have a good time.
At the start of the film Don and Alice (Robert Carlyle and Catherine McCormack) are hiding out in a farmhouse with as few others. They are uninfected and are trying to stay safe from the zombie mob. Of course the horde of zombies eventually finds them and Don is the only one who escapes.
Now twenty-eight weeks later Don and Alice’s children are being repatriated to London. They were in a safe zone during the initial outbreak and were never in danger. They are met at the train station by Don who has survived. He most however tell them that their mother did not make it.
The “repatriates” are told they must not cross over into certain parts of London. There is still possible contamination there. Don’s children, Tammy and Andy (Imogen Poots and Mackintosh Muggleton) sneak into the banned zone to go to their home and get a picture of their mother. They also find a surprise there that sets up the last half of the film.
Most of the movie is concerned with keeping the contaminated ones at bay from the uncontaminated ones. There is a lot of running, a lot of shooting, and a lot of hollering. There isn’t a lot of logic. In one crucial scene a group of “uncontaminated” people protect themselves against poison gas by holding their sleeves over their noses. And it works in keeping them safe.
The acting is routine as most of the characters just run and shriek and moan. Emily Beecham has some good moments as Karen, an Army medical officer. Harold Perrineau of “Lost” fame is solid as a helicopter pilot.
The movie is rated R for profanity and violence.
If you liked the original film you will probably like this one. However if you are expecting anything new and original, forget about it. This is definitely a case of the sequel being the same old same old.
I scored “28 Weeks Later” a dittoed 4 out of 10.
