Fans of “fast” zombies rejoice,
they're back again.
28 Weeks Later returns us to merry old
England where now some 7 months later it seems that the “Rage”
virus that turned the UK on it's ear in the the first film (28 Weeks
Later, duh?) has been contained and slowly the government is allowing
citizens to return a little at a time. As you can probably have
already guessed by now though all is not well and soon our principal
characters find them selves on the run from the running zombies
28 Weeks Later is one of those “on
the fence” films for me. I can't really bash it because it's not a
bad film yet I can't give it a ringing “go get it” as I can't say
that I particularly enjoyed it either. Confused? Yeah, so am I.
As I sit here attempting to figure out
how to let you know how I feel about this film I find that I don't
really feel anything towards it. The characters this time around
lack any real depth and seem to be just placed in the scenes to give
the zombies someone to chase around. Attempts are made at making us
care but for me I just never really did and for this horror fan that
is a deal breaker for if I don't care (be it love them or hate them)
then I just can't get with the program.
Technically I found the film to be top
notch. The FX are wonderful and very graphic. The blood flies fast
and furious and I don't care what you “purists” out there say, a
freakin zombie that comes at you running full speed spitting blood
and making some freaked out grunting, screaming noises is scary.
Sorry, just is.
That being said the stalk and hunt
scenes are amazing. There is just no getting away from these things
and if they catch your scent, you're pretty much dead. Our
characters spend most of their time trying to stay out of sight and
off the radar of the growing numbers of the infected and when they do
run across them well those moments end up being the best reason to
watch this film.
Make no beans about it, this film is
vicious and the viciousness is why I find myself telling you to make
sure you pick this one up and check it out for yourself. For some of
you the overwhelming violence may be enough to make it worth your
while. For me, I just need a little more.
I hope they have enough sense to stop
while they are ahead with this franchise although you and I both know
that soon I'll be reporting on the first day of shooting for 28
Months Later.
I'm just thinking unless they come up
with a reason to make me want to revisit “rage-torn” London I'm
fine just with knowing what happened at the 28 Week point of the
outbreak and being done with it.
Story, story story. It seems that is
all I talk about when it comes to horror films any more. You can't
just rely on the violence and gore. There has to be reason for it
all and there has to be someone that we care about to make us hang
around and hopefully want to revisit from time to time.
20th Century Fox has put
together a wonderful package for this release and the film looks and
sounds fantastic. The special features are the standard fare and are
well put together and entertaining. Over all a great little package
for a slightly above average zombie flick.
I do highly recommend that you pick
this one up for yourself and give it a test run. I think that quite
a few of you will find it to your liking and for those of you who
like a little more story with your gory it is still worth spending
the time just to see the red stuff flow.
Not a “must have” but also not a
“don't bother” 28 Weeks Later is a “when you get around to it”.
