28 DAYS LATER

By Michael Petch

28 days after the virus starts, Jim wakes up in a hospital. Unaware of why he's there and why there are no people, he sets off to explore. London is empty (so very similar to John Wyndham’s excellent Day of the Triffids). There are some stunning shots of famous London landmarks all deserted. During the day he sees nobody and it's all quite chilling. Finally, when dusk begins to fall he makes his way into a church where bodies are piled high. Hiding in the bodies are virus victims who are still alive. Jim is luckily a quick thinker and realises that these guys do not simply want to make friends. He runs away but is certain to be caught. The virus victims run like maniacs with flailing arms and lots of snarls and grunts, lots of puking up blood etc. Luckily, he's not the only survivor. Two people help him out, blowing up an entire petrol station to fry the infected. Selena (Naomie Harris) is one of the two who rescue him (the other guy is soon dead), a woman with a strong survivalist nature and one who puts herself ahead of everything else. As the story progresses they meet a man and his young daughter who have blockaded themselves into their tower block home. Again, everything is quite bleak. They rumour about the possibility of the virus reaching the rest of the world, and they seem to have very little hope. On top of that they have next to no water.

What to do? Do they scavenge for supplies and hold out as long as possible? The father, Frank (Brendan Gleeson) picks up a signal on his wind-up radio (I knew those gadgets would come in handy eventually). Salvation? A cure? That’s what the recorded signal promises. Unfortunately it’s emanating from somewhere north of Manchester (a good 7 hour drive on a good day). Should they take the risk? Should they try and leave the city? Should I even ask silly questions?

After an enjoyable Dawn of the Dead-inspired shopping trip round a supermarket they depart in a Black Cab (taxi), although the trip out of the city involves some hazardous times escaping from the infected. The trip up north is just as desolate and scary as that in the city, but, during a stop for rest and sleep they garner some hope from the beautiful countryside and the unaffected wild animals around them. Surely the infected will die of starvation eventually? Surely their destination will be their salvation?

When they finally reach their intended destination they find a small group of army men who have set up base in an old stately home. The grounds have been fenced off, mines have been laid and giant floodlights erected. It seems like a great set-up, and Jim and co are happy to be there, even if the news of a cure was a lie. Unfortunately, the good news doesn’t last long. As the General says, “People have always killed people.” For him this is a state of normalcy, and, as it happens, Jim should be just as afraid of the soldiers as the infected.