28 Weeks Later

Simply put, summer sequels should never work out this well.

Normally, follow-ups to reasonably successful movies fall flat. It's nothing new. But keep in mind that this is a normal scenario. In most of these cases, you'll have all of the superstars that made it's predecessor such a success coming back for more, and maybe the director if you're lucky.

By those terms, “28 Weeks Later,” the 2007 follow-up to the brilliant “28 Days Later,” went 0 for 2. It lost not only visionary director Danny Boyle, but also its entire cast. There were no real A-List stars but rather an infinitely more effective group of lesser-knowns. On paper, this movie should be doomed to fail.

But amazingly, it doesn't. New director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo creates an excellent new chapter for the franchise. He successfully maintains the style of the first film while still managing to establish its own identity in the series.

Arguably, the biggest name in the movie is Robert Carlyle as a middle-aged Englishman named Don. However, the film focuses primarily on the journey of his two children, Andy, played by Mackintosh Muggleton, and Tammy, played by Imogen Poots. We don't meet them immediately. The prologue places them at refuge in Spain shortly after the first outbreak of the mysterious rage virus, setting us up for, yes, a zombie attack and, more importantly, a key moment of cowardice from their father.

Following this, we learn of the events that followed the initial breakout of infection. Fast forward to today and we see an American occupation/restoration attempt (sound familiar?) of the lone secure area of London, the Isle of Dogs. If the new populace stays within the boundaries, they're safe from infection.

Inevitably, Andy and Tammy's curiosity gets the better of them and after a reunion with their father, they venture outside to explore their old home. This sets off a chain of events that will introduce infection to the world again. Along the way, we meet an array of genuinely likable characters, including US Army nurse Scarlet, played by Rose Byrne, and the sympathetic sniper, Doyle, played by Jeremy Renner.

From a stylistic standpoint, Fresnadillo gives the franchise a much-needed facelift. The tight, frenetic camera work from “28 Days Later” is still present, but the film no longer has that grainy quality that was one of the first film's few miscues. In other words, the franchise no longer looks as though it's being shot on a Super-8 camera, and this is a welcome change.

Special effects are perfectly utilized, particularly in one specific moment of desperation that is also the film's most notable for possible political undertone. The result is a work that looks the part of a Hollywood blockbuster while maintaining the best qualities of its lower-budget predecessor: endearing characters and an intriguing plot.

But now we're left with the vital question whether the franchise will take the next step. “Weeks” sets up a possible venture into “28 Months Later” perfectly, and with a rumored return of Danny Boyle to the helm, one can only look forward to it with anticipation.

Written by: Dan Kaplan

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