"Be thankful for everything. For soon, there will be nothing."
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The film starts out with a montage of riots, violent protests, and other instances of chaos that have occurred. Pan out to reveal monkey. Several monkeys, to be exact. Scientists have been doing tests on these monkeys, filling them with rage via these montages, and recording the results. Then the f*ckers at PETA (no offense) or some other animal organization decide that it's best for the monkeys to be free and live like they once did in Being John Malkovich . They release the monkeys already inflicted with rage, the monkeys bite, the receivers bite back, and so forth, and so forth. Cut to a naked Cillian Murphy, playing Jim, who has been in a coma for quite some time. I think it was 28 days- OH WAIT.
As a horror film, 28 Days Later works if you are already invested into what you are about to watch. A friend of mine knew that it was a zombie movie, and during the intro where everything is set up for him, he got bored and changed it. This is a zombie movie that tends to stray away from the standard. There really is no virus or mutation. Really, 28 Days Later takes the Doom movie approach. The zombies come from rage, which is embodied through blood, which, if spread, will enrage others, turning them into zombies. Interesting, and not too distracting of an idea. In reality, it's very interesting and something that could really make you think in the end.
Surprisingly enough, there is also a fair amount of drama, comedy, and even romance to be found in here. The interactions between the survivors (this is the point where I talk about this like It's Left 4 Dead) range from really heart-felt, emotional, and strong, to a little comedic. Some of the characters ramble, talk about things they had when life was normal, experiences, their life during the zombie attack, etc. It's kind of like the comedy you'd find in The Hurt Locker or Moon; it's subtle but relatable and understandable. Yes, there is a bit of a romantic subplot, but in the end, it feels kind of worth it, even if it is a little sappy and a little cliche. Just watching it play out feels right, though, considering what has just occurred on screen. Nothing feels out of place, neither comedy nor romance, and neither overshadows the overall adventure.
Now, back to writing... the script is good. Generally, great dialogue and bandy is exchanged between characters at a good pace, and everything stands up strong. This is the strong point of the writing, and basically the only thing worth talking about. Another small thing that plays well for the film is the cinematography. 28 Days Later is full of great angles and excellent camera movement. Everything feels and looks grainy, giving off the vibe of a standard DV camera being used, which is actually quite possibly true, from what I've heard. Like what Cloverfield tried to do, this helped get you into the movie, and raises the intensity. There is some shake, but not enough to piss you off with a migraine, but there is enough movement to keep things on their toes. It's even artsy at points, with obscure, yet well thought out shots, and even some surreal Michel Gondry-like foreground work. For instance, there is a scene where the survivors' car is riding along the top of the screen, and below them is a huge as water-color painting of a field of flowers. It's beautiful, and along with it comes an excellently picked song coming from an excellently made soundtrack. The music by John Murphy is intense, filled with orchestra pieces bouncing off of a standard rock band. Everything is placed properly and fits each scene, helping you feel the emotion you should feel. Everything feels just right.
I digress once a-gain. 28 Days Later truly amazing horror movie, that is much more than just horror. But yeah; ZAMBIES!
5/5 for being *hand movement* different.
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