28 Weeks Later (DVD)

Although 28 Weeks Later is a follow-up to Danny Boyle's surprise horror hit from a few years back, this is a zombie movie that stands on its own shambling feet. Boyle produced this 2007 release, but it's directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (who also coworte the screenplay) and it's quite a bit different from its predecessor in everything from story, to tone, to cinematography and music.

Set in England, the story the centers on the Harris family — husband and wife Donald and Alice (Robert Carlyle and Catherine McCormack), and their kids, teenaged Tammy (Imogen Poots) and younger boy Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton) — and how they deal with a zombie pandemic and the inevitable apocalypse.

It's established that the Rage Virus, which turned innocent people into bloodthirsty zombie-like creatures, has finally been contained and it's safe to venture out again. But some people are asymptomatic carriers of the disease…

When the virus escapes the confines of a London laboratory and the population is once again afflicted, a U.S. Delta Force sniper (Jeremy Renner) and a medical officer (Rose Byrne) try to lead survivors to safety.  On their side are Army chopper pilot Flynn (Harold Perrineau) and General Stone (Idris Elba), but even with all that military know-how and firepower, the zombies manage to wreak a whole helluva lot of havoc.

I certainly expected undead shenanigans and goopy gore from 28 Weeks Later, but I didn't expect such fully-realized characters — both human and zombie, by the way — or so much suspense and tension.

While war metaphors and political subtext is there, this is the kind of movie that a variety of viewers can enjoy without feeling like they're being bashed on the head by Western Union; I was drawn into the drama of the torn family, and found myself genuinely caught up in the terror of the situation. Unlike a lot of (equally enjoyable) horror movies, 28 Weeks Later lulls into thinking this could actually happen and what the terrifying consequences might be.

Additional release materials include:

• Commentary by Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Co-Writer Enrique Lopez Lavigne
• Code Red: Making Of 28 Weeks Later Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
• The Infected Make-Up Effects Featurette
• Getting Into The Action Featurette
• 28 Days Later: The Aftermath Flash-Animated Graphic Novel
  -          Stage 1 – “Development”
  -          Stage 3 – “Decimation”
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary

= = =

Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson