Frightening possibilities

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2007)

It is rare that a sequel is as good as its original, but 28 Weeks Later is one of those films that lives up to the success of its predecessor.
The plot was simple but effective: After allowing the virus to die, the American Army begins to rebuild Britain starting with 'District 1' AKA the Isle of Dogs... While the regeneration of London continues, District 1's population grows, and the first children arrive to rebuild their home. They are told about the death of their mother to the rage virus and that they won't be going back to their old house, so they decide to sneak out of the complex to get some old belongings including a photo of their mother. It is during this escapade, that they come across their mum who appears to have survived the virus...
The film definitely lived up to the original in pace, effects and plot. In fact the time flew by and although it may have been possible to make it longer, I think the right decision was made to leave it as it was, and use the time in an extremely effective way. This film had a bigger budget then the the first and I felt that this was used sensibly. In fact what made the film was the same choppy and grainy camera effects used in the original, although they were used to a much greater affect.
I was also impressed with the realistic attitude of the film including the decisions that would be taken in this situation, such as the anguish of the soldiers in having to first identify the infected from the uninfected, to then having to kill everyone. There was good choice of scenes used, with the 'hideout and ambush' at the beginning and the 'fox in the chickens coup' scenes (You'll know what I mean when you see them). These were particularly strong and were extremely intense.
Having said all this the film's time line is fairly short (24 hour period), and I'm sure many who have not seen 28 Days Later may think that the real issues such as survival, food and shelter have not been dealt with. It is important that anyone thinking of watching this does watch the original first as this film is not separate but leads on from where the first left off. This film now deals with: The problem of re-populating a country; How people handle a re-infection; The hope of creating a cure through the carriers, but at the same time the devastation the carriers can cause if the world is unaware of them; And what might happen if the virus manages to cross the channel
Finally this film leaves a terrifying image of how easy it would be for the virus to infect the world...
I couldn't fault this film in any way. Superb 10 out of 10.