My real issue with 28 Years Later is that the kid character was all over the place. His characterization was whatever the movie needed it to be in the moment. You’re telling me that the moody kid who ran away from home because he got a swat from his father (who didn’t want his son to get eaten by zombies on the mainland) is gonna be okay with the weirdo doctor he just met who
Spoiler
killed his mom, decapitated her while the kid was sleeping, and handed him her boiled skull to add to his creepy bone pyramid.
I definitely thought that was going to be the turning point where the kid realized he’d made a huge mistake and that maybe man is the real monster. Instead, he’s totally cool about it (maybe because Ralph Fiennes said “memento mori” in a strangely soft voice about 50 times). Then, he turns into Legolas for the last two minutes of the movie and is arrow sniping running zombies at 100 yards.
Haha. I mean, sure, I won’t say you’re wrong, and I don’t want to devolve this into the kind of point-by-point internet fight I was really interested in 25 (28???) years ago,
but...
I think he was actually great with a bow and arrow all along, he was just freaked out during those first encounters. Otherwise why would his dad have taken him out two years younger than they normally do? He must at least have been a pretty good shot.
As for the other stuff, idk, I thought it made sense both in the context of like, fucked up world therefore fucked up shit - but also like on a mythic level. The shots of the whole galaxy during the chase back to the island, the break with the father and death of the mother, the wizard who is wise, powerful and dangerous, it felt archetypal, almost fairytale. Afterward I was thinking about something somebody said - maybe Clive Barker, maybe Brian K Vaughan, I forget - about fairy tales being stories in which a kid breaks a rule, has amazing adventures, comes home, and is supposed to have learned not to break the rules but has actually learned that breaking the rules leads to awesome adventures. Maybe relevant, maybe not.
Idk like I said, not trying to change your mind or say you’re wrong, just saying it worked for me!
ETA also can I just say, I hate the “man is the real monster thing?” The last part of the original film always loses me a little because “army guys, threat of sexual violence, maybe WE are the real monsters” is like the maiden/mother/crone of shit I don’t really want to watch in movies. I’m watching a monster movie! Monsters are the real monsters!
Saw this last night and thought it was excellent. Generally really enjoy these sort of small/low budget sci-fi films especially when they’re executed this well.
Great script, striking production design and incredible performances by the central trio especially Alicia Vikander who really leans into the role!
Definitely gave me big Yorgos does Black Mirror vibes with a dash of Ex Machina aesthetics, but very much it’s own thing too.
Trailer here but I’d actually advise not watching it and go in blind.
Brilliant doc about Martin Newell (Cleaners From Venus). He’s a proper British eccentric and genius song writer who’s done things on his own terms in a time when that was not how the music industry operated. Would’ve preferred it if it went a little deeper into his life but he’s incredibly sharp, witty and insightful and it’s packed full of great stories and quotes. Saw him play a rare gig the night after watching this and he’s absolutely still got it!
Also rewatched Malcolm X recently after having not seen it for years. Was even better than I originally remember and possibly Denzels greatest ever performance (absolutely robbed by Pacino at the oscars that year!).
