It's hard to find a good horror flick these days. I think part of the problem lies in the film maker's concentration on special effects. Not so with Danny Boyle's
28 Days Later. This is pure story with little special effects. This is a pseudo-zombie flick done right.

Monkeys have been infected with something called 'Rage'. Some idiots come in and release them against all warnings. Flash forward and a very nekkid Jimmy (Cillian Murphy - Girl with a Pearl Earring) wakes up in a hospital bed.. Brittain has been decimated by Rage.

Jimmy happens upon a few other survivors, and the usual race is on to try to find others and not get infected themselves in the process.

Where this succeeds is that it concentrates on the fear and horror of the situation rather than on trying to top the latest FX masterpiece. It tells it's story pretty straight forward and relies on us to use our imagination, to put ourselves in the same situation mentally. I wish more films would trust us enough to do this.

There is gore, don't doubt that for one minute, but it isn't about the gore as with so many of today's movies. It's about the helplessness, and the hope. The desire to survive somehow.

The story mainly concentrates on the perils of the three main characters portrayed excellently by Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris (Anansi), and Megan Burns (Liam). The three work remarkably well together and we do feel their fear, and their deep need to connect with other humans.

28 Days Later is Rated R for strong violence and gore, language and nudity. Well, language never hurt anyone, the gore is there, but it's a zombie movie.. duh. As for the nudity, well.. it's Murphy in the beginning of the film, and he is full on nekkid laying in the hospital bed. You do see his naughty bits and for quite a few minutes at that, but it is not presented in a a sexual manner at all. My kid woulda just giggled with her friends for days over it. No harm here. 13 and up easily.

I do highly recommend this one, and am adding it to my Best of 2002 list. If you've not seen this one yet, go get it now.


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This has been a part of Sleeper54's second annual Lean-N-Mean write-off, where we are challenged to write a review using less than 666 words. Great fun! Do join.... Books is goin' down this year!

See all the entries here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_3600982148

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD