The thing about 28 Weeks Later is that it's about everything. It's one big metaphor and you decide as you watch if you're seeing a movie about AIDS, war, family, survival, fascism, American foreign policy, immigration, mental health, the Katrina disaster, etc. On the surface, the story is incredibly simple (zombies take over London) but the metaphors are incredibly complex and thought provoking. The story is set in motion by a dangerous exchange of body fluids during a loving kiss. They guy who gets kissed then spreads it to a hundred other people and so on, and so on and so on. Within hours, zombies are everywhere. The plot is simple, the issues are not. Both viscerally frightening and intellectually challenging, I felt very unsettled the whole time but I also found myself pondering the endless themes. And for once, the people in theater were quiet and well-behaved. And a good time was had by all.
1 comment:
Interesting take on 28 WEEKS — I didn't think of an AIDS angle.
I view it as a contest of man against his own nature with zombies as a catalyst again.
It's interesting how many pertinent moral challenges can be explored from that situation in the right hands. In 28 DAYS we saw a gang with the ability to protect humans from the zombies try to exploit people and establish a ruthless, self-serving kingdom.
In 28 WEEKS, we are to question Robert Carlyle's cowardice plus whether humankind can restrain its animal instinct long enough to discover and protect the only thing that might save it — the genetic immunity the mother and children seem to have to the zombie virus.
A great exposé of human nature. We have yet to see whether humanity can do what's best for it through reason and science or simply go instinct from hysterical violence and immediate gratification.
This is how 28 WEEKS' filmmakers elevate the zombie and action genres. Whereas most monster movies are just trite, 2-dimensional hero fables about whether characters can muster the strength to fight back and survive (INDEPENDENCE DAY, JURASSIC PARK), the 28 folks use the situation to explore ways human beings contribute to their own peril.
I always liked that about the ALIEN series, as well.
And 28 WEEKS does heroism, too. It's perhaps the first likeable role Jeremy Renner has ever played — nice to see him play a good guy! I found him sexy and likeable for the first time, even with the hamburger face.
My friend Jennifer did not like the film because it was too scary, action-based and traumatizing. She prefers more character-driven movies which she got more of in 28 DAYS.
She liked the themes I pointed out, but felt there should have been more dialogue explaining them.
But I think there's something to be said for subtlety, purposeful action speaking louder than words and forcing the audience to fit the puzzle together themselves. Especially in the medium of film.
28 WEEKS is more of a Dick Flick, anyway. I would assume most women are turned off from the whole genre in the first place.
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