28 Days Later (2002)

“28 Days Later” is one of the few movies that truly gave me chills the first time I saw it. Director Danny Boyle was already internationally known after helming “Shallow Grave”, “Trainspotting”, and “The Beach when he took on his first major horror movie. For this endeavor, he brought in a talented British cast consisting of Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, and Christopher Eccleston aka Dr. Who. Using a script written Alex Garland (who also wrote the “Beach”), the movie is a gritty and realistic thrill ride in present-apocalyptic England, beginning 28 days after the infection Rage is unintentionally released upon the world.

“28 Days Later” has, in my opinion, the best explanation as to how or why its “zombie apocalypse” begins. I want to say that I use the term zombie lightly because the monsters are not undead like they are in every other movie. Instead, they are living, breathing, mindless creatures who live only to kill. They become infected in the same manner as zombies infect the living in most movies, by biting, scratching, and any form of blood transmission. This is the only movie where I have seen the “zombies” die of starvation. Its’ also a pleasant change of pace where the infected don’t have to be shot or damaged exclusively in the head.

The second half of the film is a frightening scenario of how a military, or any group that outnumbers another in both people and/or firearms, could treat others looking for help. It’s a shame that the only member of the military who did not agree with the popular plan was displayed as overly philosophical during the dinner scene. I’m being vague in case you have not seen this movie yet or in a long time.

My favorite moment – I love how the film quality seems gritty as if this was a low budget film. I also love the soundtrack, or lack thereof, throughout the movie. These two elements helped to create an atmosphere that drew the viewer even deeper into the film than they were expecting.