Staying alive

Survival is an oft-repeated theme in films. When it comes to the genre of horror, you simply know that survival – or the thought of it – is going to be its driving force. And so it is with ‘28 Weeks Later’, a horror sci-fi thriller which is being screened to almost-empty theatres in Mumbai this week.

We, Indians, don’t seem to take to horror films with as much gusto as the Westerners do. You can tell by the number of horror films India has produced, not just the empty seats in the theatres. So, if you’re planning to see ‘28 Weeks Later’, I suggest you take a friend along for reassurance during those daring moments on the screen.

I had a specific reason for watching this film. It’s a sequel to ‘28 Days Later’, a film by British director Danny Boyle (made some 5 years ago), and one that occupies a place in my personal collection. That’s because I revel in the theme of a dystopian future (‘Children of Men’ and ‘V for Vendetta’ are two of my favourite films), which usually takes the form of science fiction. Horror is often part of the package.

Of course, ‘28 Days Later’ has some gore in it, making it somewhat unpalatable to the weak-hearted. That’s because a rage virus happens to be on the loose in Britain (accidentally set off by animal activists), infecting people and turning them into blood-spewing, flesh-eating zombies attacking innocent humans. The army is brought in for protection, but only in pockets. Staying alive becomes a nightmare for civilians.

‘28 Weeks Later’, the sequel by Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, presents a future 6 months after the rage virus has been contained in Britain. Those awful zombies have died out of starvation, and a few human survivors have remained (those who managed to escape the nightmare). This time the US army has been brought in for protection, and to clear the ground for repatriation of British nationals in a safe zone.

All seems to be going well. Then, an unexpected incident triggers the dormant virus and all hell breaks loose. Once again, the innocent are on the run for their lives.

The cinematography in ‘28 Weeks Later’ is really good. The music, even better. The direction is quite gripping. The cast, apart from Robert Carlyle, has no one famous. But their acting is commendable. If you have the nerve for horror sci-fi thrillers, then ‘28 Weeks Later’ is just the film for you this season.