With 28 Years Later just around the corner, many fans are excited to see both the original writer and director team, Alex Garland and Danny Boyle, back at the helm for the first time since the first film in the trilogy.
Ground Zero: 28 Days Later
The infected first tore across our screens in late 2002. Unlike the zombies that came before, these were not shambling, undead monsters; they were us, possessed by the insatiable ‘rage virus’.
The raw energy of these horrific antagonists melded perfectly with Boyle and Anthony Dod Mantle’s kinetic cinematic style. This combination was truly unique, making use of new digital camcorders, most memorably in the opening sequence, in which Cillian Murphy’s character wakes from a coma and navigates the barren streets of central London.
Expanding the Outbreak: 28 Weeks Later
In 2007, 28 Weeks Later arrived. It had a bigger budget and an equally impressive cast, as well as some excellent jump scares. It was even produced by Danny Boyle, although a new director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, was brought on.
The themes explored in this new take on the infected world included international interactions, military presence, and necessary but ruthless sacrifice. Although distinct from the original, it retained some of Boyle’s signature energy.
The Modern Zombie: 28 Years Later
For years there was speculation about a ‘28 Months Later’ film. Both Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have discussed the speculation around this potential film. However, what we’ve ended up with is 28 Years Later.
Set to star Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes and several other stars. There were some misplaced rumours of a Cillian Murphy cameo.
The story follows a group of isolated survivors who are forced to venture onto the mainland, where it is discovered that a mutation has spread from the infected to the other survivors.
A Full-Blown Franchise?
The third film in the series is expected to do well, with a strong advertising campaign and the original creators steering it. It’s been a long time in the works, and fans have high expectations.
Whether or not we’ll see a fourth instalment is anyone’s guess, but if 28 Years Later proves to be the financial success that people are expecting, it’s a possibility.
If successful, we might also see the franchise branch into other areas, including possible TV spin-offs, merchandise lines, graphic novels and more. This kind of franchising is even seen in the iGaming industry, with themed slots and bingo games drawing from TV and film often a popular choice. In the zombie genre, this has been seen in The Walking Dead franchise, with The Walking Dead Cash Collect slot an example here. Therefore, it’s not out of the question that we’ll see more IP-based attractions in the near future.
Nobody would argue that these are conventional zombie films, but they are beloved by fans of the zombie genre, including the legions of horror fanatics who hail Romero’s Night of the Living Dead as the indisputable champion.
But that’s not to say that it isn’t equally worthy. Boyle and Garland have built a world and a style that are utterly unique, blending savage camera movements and fast cutting with Garland’s heartfelt and deeply human writing.
