Zombies rock!

[gwyn]

It's taken me more time to catch up on the summer movies than I'd hoped. Partly it's because so little interests me, but also it's because I am a slave to my house, and have spent far too many weekends toiling sweatily in the garden. Now that it's just been too hot, I've been running around trying to get to the things that still intrigue me, and finally got to 28 Days Later today. I wasn't totally convinced I wanted to see it that bad, but I'm really glad I did get interested -- the "alternate" ending (which I'm given to understand is simply the original ending in Britain rather than the softer ending put on for Yank audiences) that was put on after the end credits was really what caught my eye.

I'm not normally a zombie movie fan. The trailers had been interesting, but not enough to make me think, oh hey, new kind of zombie movie. The thing that was most appealing in the trailers turned out to be the most appealing in the actual film -- that instead of the usual lumbering mindless zombies slowly making their way towards people who are too dumb to live, these zombies were fast and scary and didn't really seem to have any particular point. It was never explained if they were hungry or just looking to kill from the infectious rage that they'd been stricken with. That lent an extra scary edge to the movie -- and it's always creeped me out considerably when they use the jump-cut, missing-frame technique that makes a subject seem jittery and abnormally fast. Scary movies are almost always lowest on my list to see, because they never succeed in the thing they're supposed to do -- scare me. I'm always hopefully looking for a movie that will truly give me the heebie-jeebies, and 28 Days Later succeeded.

The whole setup at the beginning -- the animal rescuers breaking in to a horrible research and vivisection facility to free monkeys only to have their good intentions turn destructive, a lone guy waking up in a hospital to find an entirely empty London -- was genuinely ooky, and they followed through on that for the rest of the movie. While the ending turns a bit standard scary movie actiony -- with everyone trapped in a dark house, waiting to get picked off -- it was nicely effective because it was based on something I think every woman fears in a post-apocalyptic world. (It was also a super pleasant surprise to see Christopher Eccleston in the last half of the movie; I hadn't known he was in it and he's truly one of my favorite unsung actors, and always does wonderful reasonably insane people -- by that I mean, insane guys who appear reasonable. And he's also one of the best Iagos ever.)

Excellent musical selections, cool digital video look and feel, a nice cast (at first I wasn't so sure about the guy playing the lead, Jim, but I really warmed to him later), especially the actress playing Selena, not to mention a really atmospheric vision of a fast, terrifying apocalypse, all combined to create a genuine scary thriller. While kick-ass Selena of course suddenly becomes helpless at one point towards the end, in standard movie convention, for the most part the characters' desperation and abilities felt earned and realistic. It's a toss-up whether you'd want to survive in such a situation or not, and they play on that "what's the point" struggle very nicely.

movies_michelle jumped a number of times, and the people behind us were quite literally moaning "oh, oh, NOOooo" and other sundry terrified sounds, so it seemed to do its job effectively. This was definitely my kind of zombie movie. If it's still playing and you go, stay through the end credits for the other ending. No one at our theatre did, but I think it was totally worth it. I'm actually planning for the nightmares I'll likely be having tonight -- I'm easily affected by my viewing during the day, so I'm pretty sure I'll be stalked by zombies tonight, or my friends and I will be infected by rage. I could live without the blood spewing, though.

Comments

[xanphibian.livejournal.com]

Ack! I didn't know there was an alternate ending! Now I'm going to have to rent the DVD when it comes out just to see it. :)

I wasn't really able to enjoy this film, because the whole time I was thinking, 'If it were me, I'd just kill myself. Why aren't they killing themselves?' That, and they kept doing stupid things. Like Jim going into the store when they stopped for gas. 'Of *course* there's going to be some Infected in there, you idiot!' (although I was unprepared for the kid aspect) Mostly it was just too unbelievable for me to find it very scary. (although the fast action *did* freak me out a few times) I don't usually watch horror-type films, but I think I prefer scary movies where I can actually see the plot happening in real life. Maybe if I weren't so logical I would enjoy things more. :)

Stupid things

[(Anonymous)]

Mm yes, there are about 20 bridges over the Thames (or possibly more I haven't counted), and yet obviously the best way to cross it in a world filled with zombies is to take the tunnel, because it's slightly quicker...DON'T GO IN THE TUNNEL! NEVER GO IN THE TUNNEL!
I saw it in the UK, what is the US ending?

Charlie

Re: Stupid things

[(Anonymous)]

Er, except I've just thought, that would be extremely spoilery wouldn't it. Sorry - I'm new to all this.

Charlie

Re: Stupid things

[xanphibian.livejournal.com]

Well, I think this whole post is spoilerish, so if someone dares to look in the comments, I doubt they would care. (Gwyn, if you think I shouldn't, just delete this comment) In the ending *I* saw, Jim, Selena and the girl make a big sign out of sheets and curtains and clothes that a plane can see from the sky, and the plane sees them. Whee, they're rescued. I thought it was too hokey for the dark tone of the film. (and it totally shot to hell my whole stance on 'I'd just off myself.'

And now I'm REALLY wanting to know what happens in the alternate ending, but I think I'll wait and be surprised when it comes out on DVD. Okay, no, you should tell me. I don't know if I'll remember to rent it. :)

Re: Stupid things

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I guess I don't see reviews or general comments as spoilery. I don't really understand where along the line reviews became spoilers -- to me, a spoiler is "and this happens and then this happens." Reviews don't get that specific... I dunno. So no deleting of posts here -- I think if people choose to read comments about a review, especially for something that's been showing for a month or more, then they read at their own peril. ;-)

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I think for pretty much any horror movie, you have to check your brain at the door, otherwise you'll tear your hair out trying to make sense of it. They're all pretty much predicated on people being stuck in outlandish situations, or doing the dumbest of dumbass things.

It's all about the don't syndrome. Don't go in the tunnel! Don't go in the dark, deserted building alone! Don't answer the ringing phone! Don't go down to the fogbound lakeside where the groundskeeper murdered the governess on this exact date last year!

I actually though, as well, that Jim went into that store expecting to see an Infected. I kinda got the impression he wanted to see if he could kill to protect himself or others. No reason for that, just a feeling I had.

[corngirl-jo.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Can I inquire about the ending? I saw 28 Days about a month ago, but I refused to pay 8$ to see the other ending. What was it?

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

In the interest of protecting poor little spoiler people (gah), I can send it to you privately if you give me your e-mail address (mine is gwyneth@drizzle.com).

[blue-larkspur.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen 28 Days so I can't comment on that. But Christopher Eccleston -- have you seen Jude? It's quite a depressing movie, but he's very good in it. And wasn't he in Shallow Grave? I agree that he's good at the "wonderfully reasonable insane" parts.