28 Weeks Later - B

In theatres. 99 minutes. Rated R.

2002's 28 Days Later was two stories in one. The first was a zombie flick barely hidden inside the facade of a virus outbreak which turned its infectants into VERY fast moving blood-thirsty cannibals. While the jolts were palpable, it was the second act that truly terrified. In the social/political breakdown that followed, a military outpost held out the only hope for survivors-- but it was these uninfected men that proved to be the true monsters. The breakdown of humans (especially men) when removed from political structures is not an unfamiliar British theme, most notably fleshed out in The Lord of the Flies, but it has rarely been more devastatingly explored.

The trailer for 28 Weeks Later, this time with Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo taking over for Danny Boyle and none the cast returning, left me concerned this time we'd have all the blood and guts with none of the subtext. I shouldn't have worried. This one's bigger on every level. The film opens with a backflash to the original outbreak. Husband Don and wife Alice, played by Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) and Catherine McCormick (Braveheart), are holed up with a few other uninfected when the zombies strike, leaving Robert faced with almost certain death with his wife or high-tailing it out of there without her. He chooses the latter.

Fast forward 28 weeks and London is being repopulated with the U.S. Army providing the necessary infrastructure, organization, and security. Don's son and daughter, away at school during the outbreak that claimed their mum, return to be with him. The children are played by Mackintosh Muggleton and the already beautiful Imogen Poots with none of the Cosby kids cuteness that afflict most films. But when mom shows up again, dad has some tough explaining to do. No matter, the zombie-induced hell that quickly ensues frees all minds from domestic issues, and the race is on. While an attempt is made to contain the outbreak, soon the decision is made to exterminate, leading to the second-ever fire-bombing of London. The violence here, unflinchingly bloody, is accompanied by a stellar heavy metal soundtrack. They work in tandem to bind moments of peace and silence with tension and expectation.

While the original left us with some hope, the follow-up is truly apocalyptic. Issues explored include family dynamics, the co-habitation or courage and cowardice in each of us, and the U.S. military complex. While most honest individuals will concede that the parallels the film attempts to draw between the US military response to Rage and that of military's response to Islamic terrorists are far from even, a larger problem looms. How did the U.S. come to a place where they are portrayed as the annihilators of a city? After all, the last army that firebombed London was led by Hitler. Meanwhile, the ending suggests it is human compassion and our propensity to give second chances that will ultimately be our undoing.

While there are some odd plot breakdowns and just too much violence for my blood, this film has some interesting things to say that stick with you long after the screams die down and the blood-letting ends. B