28 Weeks Latercontinues the story of the Rage Virus introduced in the revolutionary28 Days Later, which has been the inspirationfor many horror films since its release in 2002. The sequel resumes where the first movie ended, before making a transition of 28 weeks into the future, when a second outbreak of the Rage Virus occurs.
The sequel employs thesame style of filming, with handheld cinematography and quick editing, which adds to the sense of panic in every frame where characters escape from the infected. It also uses a similar background score, but it’s starkly different in its pacing.28 Weeks Laterrelentlessly runs through horrifying set pieces on its way to the conclusion.
What makes28 Weeks Latersuch an underrated sequelis that the entire film feels like one extended set piece once the second outbreak occurs. It is the perfect disaster movie that never lets up and will continue haunting viewers long after the credits have rolled due to its unforgettable climax. However, that iconic twist ending almost didn’t happen.
28 Weeks Later’s Global Outbreak Tease Was A Last-Minute Addition
The DVD Commentary Elaborates On The Choice
The28 Weeks LaterDVD features commentary by director and co-writer Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and producer and co-writer Enrique López Lavigne. The commentary delves deeper into the filming techniques and the development of dialogue and characters in the scenes. However, the most interesting tidbit is about the ending scene, which wasn’t initially a part of the plan:
“Two days before the date of the final cut, Carlos and I, we decide to turn this into something else. And we took the Eurostar… with minimal crew.” – Enrique López Lavigne (via DVD Commentary)
The unforgettable climactic twist in28 Weeks Laterreveals that the Rage Virus has made its way to France. A shot of infected people rushing out of a metro in Paris confirms that the virus isn’t contained in the UK.A frenetic group of silhouettes against the dying light of the afternoonruns towards the main streets of Paris.
One of the major plot points in28 Weeks Lateris the possibility of a vaccine for the Rage Virus. Alice, the only known person to have survived infection, had a genetic condition that made her a carrier without experiencing any of the symptoms. So, her blood could be used to create a cure for the Rage Virus.
While Alice died after her husband kissed her, got infected, and killed her, it is revealed in the film’s ending that her son Andy also has her condition.28 Weeks Latershows one of the US Army officials flying Andy and his sister Tammy away from the UK and possibly to Paris. However, the last scene changes everything.
Irrespective of the plans to capitalize on the possibility of the vaccine in more sequels, there were no plans to film an outbreak in Paris. However, the director changed his mind at the last minute, giving us that iconic closing shot, and suggesting that Andy, being a carrier, caused the outbreak in France.
28 Weeks Later’s Last-Minute Twist Can Explain Why 28 Years Later Retcons It
It Was Never Meant To Happen
28 Years Laterretcons the endingof28 Weeks Later, by revealing that the infected are still alive in the UK, 28 years after the original outbreak, but the infection’s spread in Europe has been easily quelled. The movie acknowledges the final scene of28 Weeks Later, but conveniently moves on from it with just one line of explanation.
Both writer Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle have confirmed that despite the changes in28 Years Later,28 Weeks Lateris still canon to the28 Days Laterfranchise.
It is possible that this was always the plan, since the Paris outbreak scene in28 Weeks Laterwas never supposed to happen. The retcon was probably the originally planned direction that still had to be modified due to28 Years Laterbeing stuck in development hell for years. However, other changes in28 Years Latersuggest otherwise.
Andy’s immunity and the possibility of a vaccine are never addressed in28 Years Later. Inoculation is clearly not possible, sincethe infection has spread throughout the mainland of the UK, and the only known safe space is a village that’s connected to the mainland by a bridge that disappears during high tide. So, the original plan was abandoned.
28 Weeks Later
28 Weeks Later: This film is a sequel to 28 Days Later and depicts the aftermath of the rage virus outbreak in the British Isles. Six months after the initial catastrophe, international military forces attempt to restore order, but a new wave of infection threatens to reignite the chaos.
