28 semaines plus tard

Was average at best.

I'm really tired of the stupid things people do in most horror films. This film is no different. The horror films that I consider as really good don't need to have idiot characters doing stupid things to keep the story moving. Death shouldn't need a dumb mistake or a poor decision as a catalyst.

The effects were really realistic, the story even plausible; not that it needs to be. The speed of the virus' transformation however, was inconsistent with the victims and a little faster that what one would expect to be believable.

Average at best.

Six and a Half out of Ten

I think I'm supposed to be the core demographic of this film. I like Zombie films and I don't even require them to be anything more than popcorny entertainment. Also I don't expect them to necessarily fall squarely into the Horror genre, Action is fine with me.

Despite all this, 28 weeks was not an enjoyable offering at all. Theoretically, there is plenty of action, but the camerawork is so shaky and the editing so jumpy that you hardly see what's going on. The writing isn't just nothing special, it is glaringly lacking in every respect: the dialogue (and especially the military lingo) is often cringeworthy, and, as others have pointed out, the story makes absolutely no sense in very crucial aspects. The fact that the director doesn't realize the movie never had potential for anything more than mindless action makes everything worse. I'd like to tell you that you'll enjoy yourself if you don't take the movie seriously, but unfortunately the movie takes itself completely seriously and that's painful to watch.

Four stars for the four actors that I like and that somehow agreed to do this...

'28 Weeks Later (2007)' expands on the first film in a surprisingly natural way, even if it answers a nicely ambiguous question which that superior picture purposely left hanging. It's a relatively consistent-feeling affair, even if it never captures the isolation or relentless fury of its predecessor. It does get a bit 'been there, done that' when the plot kicks in simply because of where it starts and where it ends up, though it does take a number of risks and isn't afraid to be pretty grisly, either. It's also a fairly distinct experience in its own right, one that's enjoyable throughout. 7/10.

I remember watching "28 Weeks Later" as a kid and being blown away by its intensity and suspense. Back then, I would have rated it a solid 10 out of 10, with its thrilling pace and terrifying depiction of a zombie outbreak. However, after rewatching it recently, my perception has changed quite a bit.

The film starts strong with a gripping opening scene that sets the tone for chaos and desperation. But as the movie progresses, it starts to feel a bit like a low-budget production. The special effects and some of the action sequences, which once seemed cutting-edge, now come off as slightly unpolished and less convincing.

The storyline, particularly the subplot involving the zombie dad, feels awkward and forced. What initially seemed like a dramatic plot twist now feels more cringe-worthy and detracts from the overall tension of the movie. The idea of the dad turning into a zombie and becoming a recurring threat was meant to add a personal dimension to the horror but instead comes across as repetitive and not particularly compelling.

Overall, "28 Weeks Later" has its moments of suspense and still carries a sense of dread, but it doesn't hold up as well as I remembered. The film's shortcomings become more apparent upon rewatching I'd rate it closer to a 6 or 7 out of 10 now-still entertaining in parts, but not the masterpiece I once thought it was.

Having seen 28 Days Later I thought I was prepared for this, but I was not. Somewhere near the beginning of the film is a scene that goes from zero to psycho in about 2 seconds flat. The beginning of 2004's Dawn of the Dead also had a wildly chaotic kick-off scene, but unlike that film, which was a great film to laugh through while chomping your popcorn, this film is no laughing matter.

When there's no violence, there's fear and tension.

When there is on-screen violence, there is absolute shock and horror. Scene after scene shows ordinary people placed in impossible situations from which they cannot escape. This time, of course, there now two implacable predators out there hunting them down: the rage virus from the first film, and the military which is attempting to maintain control of any outbreak, but is willing to visit unspeakable horrors upon innocent people if they cannot keep that control. The horror and scale of the virus is so severe, that the plans the military implements are completely plausible.

The actions scenes are masterfully done, effectively placing the viewer in the points of view of both the victims and the crazed, but still scarily human, zombies. The portrayal of the violence pulls no punches; people of all age groups and walks of life are destroyed without remorse. No attempt is made to soft-pedal it. The fragility of human life on Earth and its vulnerability to just the right nasty virus are thoughts that stay with you after you've left the theater, and add a nice "after taste" of fear. The soundtrack, as with the first film, is amazing in conveying the tension and dread and sadness of the scenes. The story is fairly tight, as well. My only complaints might be with the acting of some of the soldiers, which just didn't feel authentic to me for some reason.

Overall I'd say this is one of the best zombie films I've ever seen, in fact, one of the most effective thrillers I've seen, as well.