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28 Days Later
- Review Date: May 2, 2004
- R
- Genre: Horror
- 2003
Common Sense Media says
Viral apocalypse, zombies, and terror. For adults.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is very scary and deeply disturbing. It has extreme and graphic peril and violence. Many characters are killed. Characters use very strong language. There is frontal male nudity. Characters drink and take drugs. There are sexual references, including rape.
What's the story?
This is a movie about a viral apocalypse. It has very scary zombies and jump-out-at-you attacks, but that is not what is most unsettling. Like the small group of survivors, we are cut off from any information and don't know whether it's London, the UK, or the whole world that has been almost entirely wiped out. There is no way to know who or what to trust, no basis on which to evaluate alternative courses of action. When anyone becomes infected with the virus, there are only 10-20 seconds to kill him before he becomes a crazed, lethally infectious zombie. There is no time to plan to rebuild civilization. Survival is the only imperative. And then, just as we begin to process -- if not accept -- all of that, the movie shifts into a whole other level of scariness. The zombies are terrifying, but they are not as bad as the "human" survivors, those people capable of higher reasoning and moral principles and therefore of the most profound and disturbing betrayal.
Is it any good?
Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) keeps the audience off-balance. Nightmarish quick cuts and digital video give the look of the movie a gritty, hallucinatory immediacy. Boyle also makes brilliant use of the empty artifacts, from the deserted London streets to a once-magnificent Gosford Park-style country house, now occupied by military, who eat rotting food around the table once used for glittering parties. Each character gets just one defining quality (idealistic Jim, tough Selena, stout-hearted Frank, ingenue Hannah), but that just adds to the sense of urgency -- we don't have time to get to know them, just as they don't have time to get to know one another.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the different characters' responses to ultimate questions about the meaning of life. Who is responsible for what happened? What will the world be like 10 years later?
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AGE
28 Days Later
A really cool movie. Very bloody and intense violence. So this movie is definitely not for the faint of heart. No surprise pop-ups but the zombies themselves are pretty freaky.
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AGE
if you dont mind some blood then you are fine
it is a good movie. although there is reference to rape, it is not direct and younger kids wouldnt really understand what there talking about. this movie has blood but thats it, the only real problem is zombie violence. at first the characters say how there is nothing more important than survival, after a while they learn the true values of having one another and love. i respect this movie because the blood is not in it for shock value, but just because its necessary to make it seem realistic. it shows that you can have a good horror movie without the extreme special effects and gore. in a good way, the movie is dull. it has a bad camera and very odd cinematography. it is good because it makes it seem realistic, it wants you to feel like thats what would really happen. there wouldnt be all these explosions and stunts and things, more just like a guy walking around and finds one or two zombies, just enough to give you a freight. there is frontal male nudity, but it is only about a 3 second shot. it is not sexual at all, he is just waking up in the hospital and grabs a robe right away. nothing to worry about
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AGE
For once, a zombie movie with scary zombies! Really well directed, with good actors and sets. A winner.
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AGE
not for young kids!!!
I loved the movie, but the guy who was naked is REaLLY ugly. its a great movie tho
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AGE
Great Movie Squeamish Beware
This movie, although graphic, is a very good rendition of what zombie movies should be like. The overtones of helping others through whatever happens can come as a good change in the newer horror movies that put sex at the forefront. Now although this movie is a good one, and the action scenes can get everyone on the edge of their seat there are a three main parts that require a mature personality especially at the younger ages. The first and most obvious is the full male nudity near the beginning of the film. It is a short scene that really sets a symbolic tone, but for the sensitive beware. Second is the first third of the movie is really dark. Zombies are everywhere, running away through sewers, having to put a bullet in some guys head to stop him from becoming a zombie. It can be a bit much for a squeamish viewer to handle. Finally the last part of the movie revolves around the plans to rape the two female protagonists. Note, this is not actually done and it is not said directly "I am going to rape them", but for an older viewer it is more apparent. This is of course balanced out by the surviving male protagonist rescuing them emphasizing the main message of the film. Overall a great movie, but make sure the younger viewers are more able to cope with the violence.
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AGE
entertaining, but not scary
an interesting movie. It's one of the first fast zombie movies. Too bad it's not scary.
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AGE
lots of language and brief full guy nudity but I still love it because its one movie that actually scared me and that doesnt happen to often.
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AGE
Great for older teens/adults
28 Days later isnt your regular zombie movie. The"zombies" are fast and viscious and more frightening than the regular zombies of old movies. The film also features many fleshed out,sympathetic characters and features strong performances. I wouldnt recomend it for children or young teens due to a full frontal male nude,language and a couple of moments of graphic violence.
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AGE
This was scary, scary! My boyfriend and I watched it together and he of course loved it while I was covering my eyes half the time! Not for children!
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AGE
see it enjoy it buy it
wow this movie was scary and extremely suspenful if youre kids can handle it bring them on for the ride of their life
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Danny Boyle |
| Cast: | Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Noah Huntley |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 108 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 26, 2003 |
| DVD release date: | October 16, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong violence and gore, language and nudity. |
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