d3rang3d Reviews : 28 Weeks Later

Starring : Catherine McCormack, Robert Carlyle, Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, Imogen Poots, Mackintosh Muggleton

This has got to be one of the most eagerly awaited horror films of the year, the sequel to runaway horror success 28 Days Later, which saw the "Rage" virus turn people into howling maniacs and decimate the English landscape until it was a desolate and empty charnel house.

Months have passed. Those infected by the virus - everyone in England pretty much - have starved to death. The Americans have declared Britain safe, and are shepherding back the first wave of surviving colonists. Is it safe? Well, let's just say these settlers have more to worry about than merely getting caught up in an American friendly fire incident. You can bet that the Rage virus is going to find a way back somehow.

Focusing mainly on one family, that of Robert Carlyle, a man who hides a dark secret from the time of the first outbreak, the character building begins immediately. Is the secret he hides from his family about to unravel with devastating consequences?

Eschewing the more 'refined' filming of the first installment, this throws you straight into the heart of the action where you can run, hide, scream, and die with the characters. It works well to capture the feeling of desperation and panic, of a return to the English paradise ripped apart into insanity by the re-emerging Rage virus.

It also throws out many of the established genre rules about central characters. I can't say a huge deal without spoilage, something which a reviewer in one of the main UK newspapers apparently didn't care about in a review I unfortunately read before viewing, but suffice it to say that it will keep you guessing and leave you wondering where it might go to next.

Yes, there's a few weaknesses, such as Carlyle's keycard seeming to grant access to very unlikely areas, and one of the main plot developments is rammed in your face a little too hard, spoiling the element of surprise, but that aside, it is a great outing with a highly professional touch that will grab you by the throat and make you live and die with the cast.

What can I say? It looks great, the acting is good, and it rushes along at breakneck speed throughout. 28 Weeks Later really is one of those rare creatures, a sequel that surpasses the original in terms of raw enjoyment. I still insist that it isn't a true zombie film - but it is a kick ass movie in its own right.

Excellent job, highly recommended.