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Danny Boyle films are like Queen records. They start
off well and then about half way through, just as you're beginning to warm
to them, lurch off on a complete tangent. The only difference being Boyle
always fucks off on the same direction.
28 Days Later is no different then to Shallow Grave (sarcastic London
yuppie fare that went all psycho-cathartic), Trainspotting (socio-political
sarcasm bouyed by a sprinkling of psycho-catharsis), A Life Less Ordinary
(psycho-cathartic kidnap romp with hint of sarcasm) or The Beach (escapist
lost in paradise farce where lead character indulges in large dose of
psycho-catharsis). It starts off compelling enough what with those spectaclier
deserted London scenes, a decent twist on the traditional zombie flick &
a thoroughly likeable cast - hell, I didn't even notice it was filmed on DV!
However, as the plot progresses, Boyle soon returns to type. Yep, you guessed
it, a large helping of psychotic catharsis. Chris Ecclestone turns up halfway
through in a truly bizarre reincarnation of something from a WW2 British propaganda
movie & the whole thing loses interest from there.
Boyle has been heralded for casting relative unknowns & shooting on DV, and
although C***'s big screen debut is laudable, I'm left wandering whether
Boyle's choices were more enforced (following the critical & financial
disappointments of A Life... & The Beach) than voluntary.
Still, the relative success of 28 Days Later should refresh the coiffures
in time for Trainspotting sequel, Porno (no prizes for guessing if it involves
any psycho-catharsis or not...).
RATING: (c)Limer 2003
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28 Days Later (DVD: May 2003)
