The long silences between bursts of violence allow for empathy for the film’s characters (always reliable Irish actor Brendan Gleeson is particularly touching as a teddy bear father-figure). A bleak journey through an underground tunnel brings to mind one of the finest chapters in Stephen King’s The Stand similar such references are far from being smug in-jokes, but rather uniquely appreciative of previous horror texts.Ģ8 Days Later works well on its own merits. They take a 3-day trip to Manchester in the hope of finding an army base that promises rescue, and each stop along the way is fraught with peril. A marvel of economic storytelling, 28 Days Later follows a handful of survivors that evaded a deadly “Rage” virus that swept the country, the riots and destruction that ensued, and the legion of infected victims who roam the streets at night for human meat. Yes, these monsters travel fast (they’re a cross between athletic football players and drug fiends). It’s not long before the zombies awaken and pursue him at breakneck speeds through the streets of London. Romero ( Dawn of the Dead), opening with its young hero wandering abandoned streets calling out “Hello! Hello!” into the void. This genuinely scary post-apocalyptic zombie movie is indebted to the traditions of John Wyndham ( The Day of the Triffids) and George A. Horror fans take note: Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later is the real deal.
