28 Days Later

The talent of Danny Boyle is something that has been seen only in recent years. He made Trainspotting early in his career (and that was damn good), but only recently has he been esteemed (with films like Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours). Nowadays, audiences expect Boyle to churn out good movie after good movie. This was not always the case for him though, for he made the inept The Beach and 28 Days Later (a sort of cult hit). So, does 28 Days Later rank with Boyle's best work? Or does it exhibit the artist about to fledge? The latter, I think, is true. I was not amazed with the film as many have been. The story is pretty obvious and requires little explanation: An unknown virus has taken over London. The infected are zombie-like and vampiric. Meaning that if they bite you, you become one of them. Also, they only come out at night. A man who has woken up 28 days after the outbreak from a coma in an evacuated hospital in evacuated London meets up with a group of people hiding out. They hear word of army-controled land nearby, and make a run for it. But once they arrive at the base, things are not as they seem. Now, Boyle does bring some good qualities to the film. It is much better made than most zombie films, and the opening scenes are very, very good. But, the problem Boyle faces is that he might just end up making another forgettable zombie flick. So, he adds some human drama to the picture, and some philosophical ideas. I'm not sure that that aspect really works though. It's certainly interesting, but perhaps a little to contrived and unconvincing. Frankly, it's a little too abrupt. Again, I don't see the greatness in the film. I do however see that it is entertaining.
28 Days Later: ★★★