Viral Apocaplyse

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2007)

Whilst not having anything original to add to the formula of the predecessor's "Viral Apocalypse"- other than the militarization and re-population of the financial district of London (Sector 1)- this is still a very worthy, nerve-racking sequel. What follows is a spoiler free review of the film, followed by a clearly marked separate "SPOILER" section intended for those who have seen it to ponder over!
Carlyle and McCormick play a husband and wife, Don and Helen, amongst a small group of survivors from the 28 Days later "Rage" viral epidemic, and they illicit our sympathy from the start. They talk of their hopes for survival and seeing their children again. You know this hope won't last long-you're your stomach tightens in anticipation. After the briefest of introductions they are cruelly- and almost immediately- separated whilst trying to escape an Infected attack.
Don's "survivor's guilt" is compounded by his split-second decision of cowardice-leaving Helen to a fate worse than death, at the hands of the Infected. It is easy to moralise over his "fight or flight" decision- but what would YOU REALLY do given the circumstances? Did I understand his actions? Yes! Would I do the same? No! At least I hope not! But
Any initial sympathy for Don evaporates after being reunited with his children. When asked, "What happened to Mum?" by his dewy-eyed kids- He lies- covering up any hint of his failure to help his wife.
The well worked re-introduction of Helen, a miraculous survivor of an Infected attack, re-boots the horror factor. Is she simply now a "Rage" carrier? Does she have some special immunity that could be used to "cure" the infected?
28 Weeks Later reaches into the Horror movie top drawer for Don and Helen's reunion! The brutal "re-birth" of the Rage Infection shows the true impunity of the virus, born of their love, compassion and Helen's forgiveness.
What follows is a wonderful assortment of set pieces, without overdone FX, apart perhaps from the gruesome "Heli-chop-ter" scene in Regents Park.
The only real weaknesses in the 90-odd minutes are the convenient plot devices put in place to ensure the outbreak of the virus again. (See SPOILERS section below). Can the American Forces really be so incompetent, as to allow the virus to breakout again?! Okay, given what we have seen in recent real history- YES!. Its to the films credit that you can easily ignore these loopholes- the pace and the horrifying situations that develop mean you are sweep along with the experience.
Like its predecessor, 28 Days Later, the "fly on the wall" filming, again using hand held Digital Video recorders, grounds the movie in reality. The cruelty of the virus is mirrored in the director's vision- anyone of the characters can die and that leaves a real gut wrenching tension building throughout the film.
I DO NOT WANT TO SPOIL YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS FILM, SO IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT, PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILERS WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The film does suffer from some contrived and convenient plot holes!  Helen's face-to-face encounter with the infected leaves little doubt she will be ravaged and ripped to pieces. She is trapped in the corner of an upstairs bedroom! So how does she escape?  Assuming she did survive her attackers, surely she would have more than a simple bite mark on her arm? After all, her very own "infected" husband ends up totally shredding her to pieces!  Carlyle's Don has access to anywhere and everywhere in the supposedly super secure "Sector 1". Lets face it, he is a non-American, civilian with a souped-up janitors job- how could he get to see his quarantined wife so easily? Still, glad he did! What a family re-union! "Relate" marriage guidance councillor's heads will spin seeing that one!  Infected Don manages to conveniently find and/or follow his children's route of escape. Given the Infected Rage virus sufferers have no real conscious or reasoning thought processes- other than to kill/attack any non-Rage sufferer, it is extremely unlikely he would have tracked them down.  Some internet comments regarding both "Days" and "Weeks" link the Cillian Murphy Bike courier, to the children finding a moped outside a pizza delivery in Crouch End. They suggest the bike was his. However, Cillian Murphy character was nearly killed in a road traffic accident, so it is likely his bike was smashed up. Also Couriers tend to deliver stuff other than Pizza!
Still, its a terrific horror movie, left conveniently open for another. I knew that Channel Tunnel was a waste of money and a bad idea..............