Released on June 19, <28 Years Later> has come under scrutiny from audiences. Officially a sequel to the 2002 film <28 Days Later>, <28 Years Later> sees the return of director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland, capturing the isolated landscapes of England 28 years after the events of <28 Days Later>. After the outbreak of the rage virus, Europe sealed off the British continent to prevent the spread of the virus, and the British people adapted their lives based on past analog technologies instead of modern ones. <28 Years Later> tells the story of a boy who sets out to find a doctor for his sick mother in such a Britain. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, who built up the era of civilization's disappearance by capturing empty London in <28 Days Later>, continued the unique bleakness of '28 Days Later' by depicting the landscape of a regressed civilization in this film.
However, saying this might make one feel regret for the second film in the series, <28 Weeks Later>, released in 2007. While <28 Years Later> begins by completely negating <28 Weeks Later>, it is also likely that the series would have struggled to revive without <28 Weeks Later>. Moreover, there are some aspects where <28 Weeks Later> seems to flaunt its connection to the same series. In line with the release of <28 Years Later>, we have gathered the commonalities of the '28 Days Later' series.
Not Filmed Normally
DV → 16mm → iPhone
The ‘28 Days Later’ series has historically chosen an unconventional filming format. The first film, <28 Days Later>, used DV, which is essentially a video tape format. While it is generally superior in video quality compared to the commonly used video tapes, it is still a format not often used in commercial cinema. Using the DV format allows for quick setup and progress in filming (to put it extremely, while setting up a film camera, one could finish shooting with a DV camera), enabling director Danny Boyle to capture the empty landscapes of London within a limited time. Additionally, it was Danny Boyle's intention to give a rough feel of a city where civilization has disappeared and to approach the reality from the 'survivor's perspective'. However, not all parts were filmed this way; some scenes in the movie were shot on 35mm and 8mm film.
Five years later, <28 Weeks Later> did return to film. However, it opted for 16mm instead of the 35mm that was commonly used in commercial films at the time. Back in the 2000s when <28 Weeks Later> was filmed, digital shooting was prevalent, and if one were to use film, 35mm was the norm. However, <28 Weeks Later> used 16mm to maintain the rough texture of its predecessor while also achieving a more dramatic visual effect by mixing it with other formats. As a side note, Danny Boyle participated as a director of photography for some scenes in <28 Weeks Later>.
In this case, <28 Years Later> unexpectedly used an iPhone as a filming device. However, it wasn't filmed solely with an iPhone; various equipment was attached to a mount that allowed for the attachment of film lenses. Danny Boyle explained that he chose the iPhone considering the performance of mobile devices that can achieve 4K resolution, the peculiarities of the somewhat isolated filming locations, and the mobility of the equipment.
Family Stories, Independent Children
Father-Daughter → Father-Son-Daughter → Mother-Son
In horror films, family narratives are generally extreme. They are either completely excluded or used as elements to evoke emotion. The ‘28 Days Later’ series is closer to the latter, but what sets it apart from other works is that it places children in a proactive position to drive the story. In horror films, when depicting parent-child relationships, it is common to present situations where adults must protect children, showcasing adult responsibility or guilt. However, this series frequently shows children actively trying to solve problems. In <28 Days Later>, it is the Frank-Hannah father-daughter duo, while in <28 Weeks Later>, it is the Don-Tammy-Andy family that fits this case. In the new installment <28 Years Later>, the son Spike takes on the role of the main character leading the entire film. This characteristic of the ‘28 Days Later’ series has evolved into a narrative that twists or subverts the typical clichés of horror films.
However, this characteristic is not necessarily seen as an advantage. While the first film skillfully built up Hannah's narrative to present a dramatic climax, <28 Weeks Later> and <28 Years Later> have received responses indicating that they lost more than they gained by placing children at the forefront. In particular, <28 Weeks Later> repeatedly created situations where a child could save the world, which could be seen as brave in a good light or reckless in a bad light, leaving audiences exasperated. Similarly, in <28 Years Later>, the turning point where Spike takes center stage has divided opinions on that moment and the situations that follow. While this characteristic leans more towards a disadvantage, it cannot be denied that it is one of the most representative commonalities of the ‘28 Days Later’ series.
