28 Days Later (2002) DVD Review – UK

Activists break into an English animal research facility and accidentally release a powerful psychological virus upon the British public - with horrific consequences.

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Activists break into an English animal research facility and accidentally release a powerful psychological virus upon the British public - with horrific consequences.

Runtime

1 Hour 52 Minutes

BBFC rating

Region

Region 2

Sound

Dolby Digital 5.1

Aspect

1.85:1

Release year

2002

Details

When a group of animal rights protesters break into an English research laboratory and begin freeing the caged monkeys, they fail to realise they are unleashing something far deadlier than a few banana-loving primates. The animals have been exposed to an experimental virus that drives the infected into a permanent, psychopathic rage. When one of the released monkeys attacks a protester, it triggers an outbreak that rapidly overwhelms the country.

While chaos consumes Britain, a man lies in a coma in a London hospital. Jim, a cycle courier, had previously lost an argument with a truck during a delivery. Awakening from his coma, he discovers not only an empty ward but an entirely abandoned hospital. Venturing into the streets of London, he finds them eerily deserted. His desperate calls for help go unanswered. He has no idea what has happened - only that the world has changed.

Searching for answers, Jim wanders the city until he enters a church - where he is violently confronted by one of the infected. He has finally met the new inhabitants. Rescued by Selena, one of the few remaining uninfected survivors, he later joins forces with Frank and his daughter Hannah. When they intercept a radio broadcast from Manchester claiming a solution to the infection, they gather supplies and set out in search of hope. The problem is not the destination - it's the journey, and what may be waiting for them when they arrive.

Picture & Sound

The picture is something of a mixed bag, largely due to Danny Boyle's deliberate use of low-resolution digital cameras. The result is a bright but harsh image, lacking refined colour depth and crisp sharpness. It often appears flat and raw, yet this very quality contributes to the gritty aesthetic the director was clearly aiming for. The bit-rate remains healthy throughout, with no obvious artefacting or outlining. It's not a beautiful transfer - but arguably it's the right one for the film.

Given the modest production budget, expectations for the soundtrack were low. Fortunately, it delivers more than anticipated. The sound design is dynamic and atmospheric, with effective ambient use of the surround channels. Dialogue remains clear and centred, and moments of sudden aggression are given real weight. Overall, the audio is a definite plus point.

Menu & Extras

The menu system is attractively animated and scored, with well-designed sub-menus. The extras package is impressively comprehensive. The highlight is the director's commentary, offering insight into the film's production. Also included are deleted scenes, an alternate ending, a behind-the-scenes featurette containing cast interviews, galleries with optional commentary, and the expected teaser and theatrical trailers.

Overall

Opinion on this film has always been divided. Some hailed it - with Empire famously declaring it the best British horror film in 30 years - while others dismissed it as a derivative mash-up of Resident Evil and Dawn of the Dead. Having missed it at the cinema, I approached it with an open mind, especially given its financial success. After finally watching 28 Days Later, I find myself somewhere between both camps.

On the positive side, it stands as one of the few lottery-backed British films to turn a profit. The empty London sequences remain impressive - after all, have you seen the traffic lately? One suspects some very early Sunday morning filming and a cooperative policeman with a road-closed sign were involved. Either that, or the congestion charge briefly worked miracles.

However, the criticisms aren't entirely unfounded. There is clear genre borrowing - though arguably from more sources than just Resident Evil. I detected stronger echoes of The Day of the Triffids and, yes, Dawn of the Dead - particularly during the supermarket sequence. And considering the release timelines, the accusation of plagiarism becomes somewhat muddled.

Ultimately, the film didn't live up to its hype for me. Some performances felt uneven, the dialogue occasionally veered into deliberate cheese, and the special effects amounted largely to creative applications of tomato ketchup. That said, such rough edges are often part and parcel of the genre. After all, Dawn of the Dead wasn't exactly polished, and Resident Evil relied on questionable CGI.

In the end, perhaps expectation was the real villain. I anticipated something revolutionary and instead received something merely competent. Others will undoubtedly feel differently - and the debate surrounding 28 Days Later is likely to rage on for years.