Hulu has a surprising mix of movies and television shows. Some of them are clearly old films that don't have a valuable copyright. See, for example, The People that Time Forgot. However, some are rather strong movies that are still available on DVD, and that are still making money for studios. The decision to distribute Sideways for free on the internet is a strange one. Then there are things like Species III, all alone without Species or Species II. On the good side of things, there is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Requiem for a Dream, and Lost in Translation. I have been watching some of these movies on Hulu, and I will be writing them up as I watch them. Today, I watched 28 Days Later.
In 28 Days Later, England is destroyed by a highly contagious virus unknowingly unleashed from a government laboratory by animal rights activists trying to save the chimpanzees in which it originated. Within a few seconds of infection, and victim becomes highly aggressive and attacks anyone nearby. That is merely the premise, however, as the action follows Jim (Cillian Murphy), a man who has been in a coma for the titular four weeks. He wakes up in a hospital and wanders a desolate London before being attacked by the infected, and saved by hardened zombie-fighter Selena (Naomie Harris).
Selena and Jim eventually meet up with Frank (Brendan Gleeson) and his daughter Hannah (Megan Burns). The four travel together to Manchester following a weak radio signal promising salvation from the infection. The supposed salvation comes in the form of a squad of soldiers trying to reestablish society within the walls of a fortified manor house. Led by a Major played by Christopher Eccleston, the soldiers offer sanctuary to the survivors, but, of course, they are not as safe as they think.
28 Days Later opened in 2002 to strong critical reviews, but I have largely avoided it because of it's a zombie movie. I can handle some zombie movies, but its one of those premises that can get tired after a while. I have no idea why people are still telling vampire stories. I find that 28 Days Later deserves the praise it has received.
It is very well shot. This clearly isn't a B movie or a second rate production in any noticeable way. The filmmakers have made excellent use of the English countryside in their story about the collapse of civilization. The place of nature is a repeated theme throughout the film. From the beginning where animal rights activists accidentally trigger the worst human tragedy, to the loving shots of England's green fields as the four survivors escape London, to a debate among the soldiers at the manor house. One soldier maintains that given the shortness of human history, if the infection were to wipe humans from the earth, that would be a return to normal. Another maintains that since human history is filled with people killing people, the situation they find themselves in is normal.
Not everything is perfect--Selena the hardened zombie fighter is a little too hardened, but of course she softens up through the course of the movie. Harris's performance is probably the biggest weakness in the movie. Gleeson is an excellent character actor who is great in everything, and should be put to work as much as possible. Cillian Murphy is another fairly strong actor, and he keeps turning up in movies that I really like such as Batman Begins and Sunshine. Eccleston is fun to watch as well. The former Dr. Who star doesn't have to do anything special in the role, but he still gives a strong performance.
Overall, the movie is well made and tightly plotted. It pays homage to other zombie movies in subtle ways such as the apartment block in which Frank and Hannah are surviving which echoes The Omega Man and a night attack by the infected on the manor house which alludes to the classic Night of the Living Dead. After establishing the premise, the film shines in the second and third acts where it takes on some deeper themes.
This isn't a perfect film, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do, and I would reccomend it.
