Today’s quick review: 28 Weeks Later. Twenty-eight weeks after a virus outbreak devastated Britain, the survivors have begun to rebuild with the aid of American troops, and Donald Harris (Robert Carlyle) is reunited with his children Tammy (Imogen Poots) and Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton). But when another outbreak occurs inside the safe zone, the family must rely on an American soldier (Jeremy Renner) and medical officer (Rose Byrne) to get out alive.
28 Weeks Later is a zombie horror survival movie that picks up several months after the events of 28 Days Later. With the initial zombie outbreak dealt with, the British people and their American allies are free to begin the cleanup process. However, the discovery of another carrier of the virus threatens to destroy what has been rebuilt. 28 Weeks Later follows one beleaguered family as they attempt to navigate the crisis.
28 Weeks Later is an evolution of the previous film. Equipped with a bigger budget, more action, and a new cast of characters, the sequel explores the aftermath of a zombie outbreak. The sequel follows up on some of the more interesting ideas from the original while adding in a few more of its own. The quality of the film is high enough to make good on its premise, and it delivers a healthy mix of tension, action, character development, and plot.
However, 28 Weeks Later has flaws that keep its story from being as effective as the previous film’s. Donald is a weak man who never gets his chance at redemption, while his kids are fairly neutral characters. The events of the film stem from several bad decisions by the characters, making the whole second outbreak feel more like a blunder than a tragedy. These issues aren’t enough to hurt the film badly, but they do weaken an otherwise solid story.
Watch 28 Weeks Later if you’re a fan of zombie movies or dark science fiction. 28 Weeks Later isn’t a radical departure from the usual zombie formula, but it does manage to expand on the premise of the first film without sacrificing much quality. Skip it if you’re looking for a movie with a tighter story. For a more action-oriented zombie movie, check out World War Z. For a sci-fi survival movie with a focus on family, check out War of the Worlds.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for good ideas and decent execution hurt by a few plot holes.