28 Days Later

28 Days Later (2002)

Runtime: 113 minutes

Directed by: Danny Boyle

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, Christopher Eccelston

From: Fox Searchlight

I don’t even need to ask—people will be AGHAST this and the two sequels have never been viewed before, let alone reviewed. The thought never really crossed my mind until Years was announced; of course, there was a long stretch where Days was impossible to stream legally-I “acquired” Days for later viewing months ago & now is finally the time for review. Yes, the film’s cinematography captured on Canon XL1 digital video cameras was known by me forever-while it is understandable why some have rejected the film outright due to the visuals, that was not a deterrent or a downfall.

No comment on the downfall of Great Britain being animal rights activists breaking into a lab and freeing a monkey w/ a “rage virus,” causing a pandemic after it spreads to humans. By now I likely don’t need to explain how Cillian Murphy played Jim, who had the misfortune of waking up from a coma after his country went to Hades, walking around the abandoned streets of London. What I wasn’t expecting: seeing all of Murphy as he first woke up!

Days was an unflinching look at life after a catastrophe where the infected (whether or not you think they’re “fast zombies” is up to you. I know the director doesn’t categorize them as such) are a serious threat & no character in the story should be considered “safe.” It’s a grim movie; playing a key role in setting a somber, melancholy tone is the cinematography from Anthony Dod Mantle, a key proponent and one of the forebearers of digital photography. So is the ethereal score from John Murphy, buttressed by tracks from the likes of Brian Eno and unforgettably, God Speed! You Black Emperor.

An element or two I could criticize—of course the increasing usage of a certain word that’s especially popular among the Brits wasn’t ideal… and I’m not referring to “the C word!” There is a heartwarming message amid the chaos and the horrifying actions of man treating their fellow men (and women) terribly in a warped attempt to rebuild. Jim met some random people and went on a journey w/ people that became a new family after his traditional family were lost. That made Jim’s journey a persuasive one, and why I was invested in a grim motion picture.

The cast did a swell job overall and it wasn’t a surprise that Naomie Harris has found steady work in the 2 decades + since release; however, it was not a surprise that this was the breakout role for Cillian Murphy, resulting in a fruitful, award-winning career. The opportunity to view 28 Years Later before without spending a lot may not happen; however, 28 Weeks Later will be tackled soon. I was happy to fix the mistake I made in not ever giving this highly-regarded motion picture a shot before.