28 years after the virus hit the United Kingdom, a kid and his ill mother leave their community and cross the vast wilderness in search of a doctor.
Interesting creative choices on a script that will make you wonder why it was made the way it was. The opening sequence – the initial spread – was the most intriguing sequence and the only one that resembled the original film, 28 Days Later (2002). From then on, the mother’s illness, the son’s initiation and the introduction of the Alpha’s make it for a solid foundation. And then it switches to a different film…
Due to Danny Boyle’s certain aesthetic and narrative reasons, though, I was left indifferent to what was happening after that. The editing of specific sequences, as well as the soundtrack that accompanied them, threw me off, and I couldn’t engage with the content. Maybe because it was shot predominantly with an iPhone 15 Pro Max? Regardless, it feels like the majority of visual elements sounded or seemed better on Alex Garland’s (writer) paper and couldn’t translate properly cinematically.
Of course, someone could argue that the United Kingdom’s alienation could be a metaphor for Brexit and the way we separated ourselves from the rest of Europe – something that is not a bad shout, actually. Overall, every fan of the franchise should watch it and make up their minds afterwards, regardless of what I or everyone else is saying.
Lastly, regarding the last sequence and the mixed feelings it caused, I didn’t think it worked well at all, even though it’s there just because of the sequels that will follow. But again, you need to decide for yourselves and ask why it worked for you or didn’t.
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Solidarity for all the innocent lives that suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
