28 Years Later

A cross posting from my Geography in/on Film blog.

Last weekend I headed for Norwich to catch an opening weekend screening of '28 Years Later' - the third in the series of films by Danny Boyle (and others) which started with the classic '28 Days Later'.

It explores Britain 28 years after the release of monkeys that have been infected with a 'Rage' virus. This turns people into 'zombies' but not the slow moving ones in the usual films.... 28 Days later (the best in my son's opinion, released in 2002) and 28 Weeks later (released in 2007).

28 years later takes place in a community living on Holy Island, which is partially protected by the causeway which is covered over at high tide. There are quite a few scenes on Holy Island and there have already been people visiting it as it was a location in the film, so this will do the tourist industry on the island some good.

They have apparently launched a 'Visit if you Dare' campaign - thought I couldn't see it on the website.

It was also poignant to see the Sycamore Gap tree in the film as a location.

Here's a still of the island from the trailer

Synopsis from a review:

It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

There's a lot of interesting themes about childhood and adulthood, innocence lost, compassion, birth and death and lots more besides. People have also suggested a Brexit analogy. Certainly the community has regressed to wartime (1950s-50s) references and music. Plenty of hidden meanings. I loved Ralph Fiennes as always - his character reminded me of the one he plays in 'In Bruges'.

Here's the trailer - watch with caution... contains a few spoilers as well if you haven't seen the film yet but plan to at some point.

People have also been talking about the ending, which was filmed in Cheddar Gorge... there's a link to an earlier scene in the film when Spike is just about to head on his first hunting trip off the island with his father, and most people have forgotten something he decides not to take at the last minute. It connects with the Teletubbies and Jimmy Savile.