28 Days Later

I liked it very much, but I can't help feeling that a good chunk of the film ended up in the editing room because the transition between the two parts (the road movie part and the military part) felt a bit rushed. Otherwise, I have nothing to complain about. It was clear to me that this horror film directed by Danny Boyle was not going to be an ordinary horror film... And it's not. Luckily. Many times I was amazed at the carefree atmosphere it exudes, which was certainly due to the soundtrack. The jump scares worked, the infected flesh-eating sprinters were suitably scary... And the over-the-top, nerve-wracking, breathless finale was great too. (25/08/2012)

Danny Boyle won over audiences with Shallow Grave and cemented his reputation as a talented filmmaker with the cult classic Trainspotting. Naturally, expectations were high for his next project, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the hype, although I still give it 4 stars. It's a film that approaches its subject matter too timidly and indecisively. The pacing of the film fluctuates, the screenplay is awkward at times, and it ends with a disappointingly happy ending. Within its genre, it's still above average, but from the director of Trainspotting, I simply expected more. Overall impression: 70%. (09/12/2007)

Strong as a whole, but unconvincing in the development of the plot, or solid filmmaking that is hard to keep up with. Either way, Danny Boyle is a very good and smart director who, in the broader narrative context, elevates his film above the level of B-movie (whether in the naturalistic intro or in the end, where is bluntly suggested that the aggressive infection is actually part of the human DNA), but the explicit meanings at times feel so loose and dumbed-down and the character development so hasty that they hurt the film’s added value. The intentionally cheap look is fitting, what is more arguable is the adequacy of the music, and personally I was bothered by some editing montages and the dumb behaviour of the characters. An interesting take on the material that actually deserved a more thoughtful and psychological layering. 65% (26/03/2020)

And then that the animal rights people have the welfare of the entire planet at heart... Honestly, I wasn't too keen on the initially trashy style, and for a long time I was convinced that I was watching Danny Boyle's weakest film. But the plot flip in the middle and my reminiscences on The Mist (is the biggest danger lurking outside or inside?) fixed that a bit, and Cillian Murphy is actually a pretty cool bad-ass here. I guess this is how I'd imagine a film made by some hardcore 80s horror fan who has a healthy obsession with zombie themes and no wider ambitions. I can't quite identify with Boyle's intent, so I'm left with pure average (which is pretty low for Boyle). (29/05/2018)

A well-written reproduction of the subject of Romero’s mediocre Day of the Dead, spoiled by unsuitable visuals and music. I want a big-budget, celluloid remake by Guillermo del Toro with music by Marco Beltrami! (26/05/2003)