Review of 28 Days Later (2002) by Berliorius — 25 Jul 2015

All I was hoping for was a film with a compelling premise and some good scares. However, this film utterly surprised me, slipping in to my top 10 all-time favorites by transcending the expectations of the genre. I'm generally averse to throwing superlatives around when discussing film, but this one earned them.

It's less a traditional horror film than a horror-draped survivor's tale, and it's more human and more haunting than most films I've seen in any genre. It's impeccably filmed and edited. With both slow-burning, stark frames and frantic close-ups, it's use of camera to tell the story is masterful, never intrusive. Same with the marriage of image and soundtrack here. It's among the best I've ever experienced. The dialogue is naturalistic, without action flick, comic book stingers (Hey! But I love comics!) and conveys the stress, the fear, the desperation, the hopelessness of real people in an unreal situation. The acting, too, is superb! Cillian Murphy, as Jim, put in a performance that ranks among the very best I've ever seen on film. I've since seen him in numerous roles. He's fantastically talented, but 28 Days is still my favorite. One element that sets it apart from most horror is the pacing. This one takes time to establish an aura, an ambiance. It takes time to breathe. Rather than merely dampening intensity, it often builds it, making the characters and their interactions richer, and ultimately instilling a horror that's much more real and horrific.

The more vaunted sequel, 28 Weeks Later, is the energetic younger brother, a straight-ahead-horror-flick with uptempo pacing and loads of action. It's quite well done and succeeds on its own merits, but to this viewer, it's clearly the inferior film. 28 Weeks was a mainstream thrill ride that delivered, but it's ultimately forgettable, like most of the mainstream films I see. The original, on the other hand, is a haunting experience that's stayed with me for nearly a decade since I first saw it.

28 Days Later offers a rare, deeply felt and intense experience that makes it stand out as a great film. Consider further that it's rooted in the horror genre, and you'll realize how truly exceptional it is.