Blame the kids. They’re the main reason an all-new outbreak of the rage virus infected are rampaging through London again in this frenetic follow-up to Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later...

Things start off assuming you’ve seen the first movie as a group of survivors are huddled in a boarded-up cottage trying to keep each other sane as the infected roam the countryside outside. They’re safe in their little hovel but that soon changes when a little boy is hammering on the door to get in. Hesitant to let the youngster in they do, but they also happen to attract the attention of our hungry flesh-eaters. This leads to the movie’s first hyperactive attack sequence that ends with Don (Robert Carlyle) selfishly leaving his wife behind while he runs for his life.

Flash forward to twenty-eight weeks later (hence the title) and the American Army have moved into London to start the process of bringing people back into the country after the outbreak has seemingly been contained. Don has been hired as a building superintendent and his two younger children Tammy (Imogen Poots) and Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton) have returned to be with their dad. Unable to deal with the fact their mother has gone and wanting to feel more at home the kids decide to venture home (which is in a forbidden zone) to collect some of their things. They happen to stumble upon their mother, who escaped and is hiding in the squalor of their old home.

Turns out, mom (Catherine McCormack) is carrying the rage virus but is somehow immune to it. However, it can be passed through blood or saliva, which doesn’t bode well for Don when he kisses her upon finding out she’s alive. This causes all Hell to break loose as the virus takes over his body and, after killing his wife in a fit of anger, he starts turning anyone who gets in his path.

From here director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo ramps up the film’s pacing as Don’s two children, along with the help of an Army medic (Rose Byrne) and sharp shooting soldier (Jeremy Renner) find themselves trying to escape an overrun London as they’re chased by the undead hordes while trying to avoid the American military who will go to any length (even fire bombing the city) to contain the virus.

28 Weeks Later actually manages to trump the first film in many ways. It might not have as deep a plot as Boyle’s original movie but it more than makes up for it with its breakneck pace, gore sequences (including a pleasing moment involving a helicopter) and a decent amount of tension. It’s not as overlong or as slowly paced as it’s predecessor and doesn’t have to concern itself as much as setting the groundwork for the story as the first film did that fairly well which gives Fresnadillo plentiful chance to keep things moving. The only real problem I had with the quick pace or the film is that the action scenes often were shot in such a way to make it confusing as to exactly what’s going on – this is something a lot of modern movies are guilty of and all the tight and hyperactive camera movements can get frustrating as we never get a clear idea of events unfolding on screen.

In regards to the cast it’s always great to see Carlyle and, despite this minor screen time, does manage to have a screen presence (especially after he’s turned as his feral looks are quite menacing), familiar face Renner (who played Jeffrey Dahmer in 2002’s Dahmer and had a important role in 2005’s North Country) does fairly well and our younger cast members (Poots and Muggleton) handle themselves quite nicely.

Despite not having as deep a meaning behind it as the original or George A. Romero’s zombie movies, 28 Weeks Later is still an entertaining time that accomplishes what it set out to do. It has more than enough action and “scare” moments to please and was a much more satisfying film than the first entry – it’s just too bad that it ends with a pretty sketchy set-up for another sequel. (Chris Hartley, 5/21/07)

Directed By: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.
Written By: Rowan Joffe, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Jesus Olmo, E.L. Lavigne.

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Catherine McCormack, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner.