28 Weeks Later (R, 2007)

common sense media says

Apocalyptic zombie sequel isn't for the squeamish.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this sequel to the zombie horror fest 28 Days Later is at least as scary and disturbing as the original. Extreme, graphic peril and violence are nonstop; sympathetic characters die, dysfunctional parents' love (or lack thereof) for each other and their children inspires ghastly death, and the ending removes any sense of optimism or hope that the right course has been taken. There are also sexual references and swearing -- if anyone's even paying attention to the dialogue in a movie like this.

Positive messages: The "good" guys are the ones who disobey military orders and sacrifice themselves in order to do the right thing -- namely avoid hurting innocent/uninfected people and preserve the only humans who might create the chance for a cure. But their altruistic actions result in more bloody death and ultimate horror. Characters lie and are selfishly motivated.
Violence: Savage, unrelenting bloody violence includes helicopter blades shredding through zombies like a giant lawnmower. A woman is beaten to death and her eyes gouged in horrific close-up. Bitings and poundings; rifle fire blows off human limbs. Huge explosions and fire bombings, with both the living and the dead set ablaze. Children are repeatedly threatened with death or injury.
Sex: A nude couple having sex is distantly glimpsed though a rifle scope. Un-erotic footage of a woman naked in a shower being scrubbed down in a decontamination process. Discussion of masturbation.
Language: Much profanity, with frequent uses of both "f--k" and "s--t."
Consumerism: Some British canned-goods labels shown; posters for assorted bands.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A couple prepares to drink a bottle of liquor, but they don't get around to it.

More on 28 Weeks Later

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the enduring appeal of apocalyptic horror stories. What's the fascination? Is it that they present moral choices in sharp relief? Families can also talk about how the different characters respond to the quarantine -- and why it goes so badly wrong. Is a zero-tolerance policy the only solution?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In a major escalation of the first movie's theme, the American military has been brought in to clean up and re-settle Britain, where almost everyone died from a rabies-like contagion that turned people into maniacal (but mortal) zombie psychopaths. If you remember how Her Majesty's soldiers reacted to the "rage virus" plague in the first film -- they were fascistic survivalist types prone to rape -- you won't be surprised that this movie doesn't exactly support the troops either. In fact, it seems to be at least partially a Gulf War/Vietnam metaphor about overconfident U.S. occupiers committing atrocities when they can't tell the civilians from the hostile enemy. After showing husband and father Don (Robert Carlyle) treacherously abandoning his wife during a zombie attack to save himself in the worst days of the epidemic, the movie revisits the ghostly, abandoned London of the first film. The infected have all starved to death, and the U.S. Army is enforcing a high-tech quarantine, resettling the British capital with refugees who waited out the crisis safely across the English Channel. One of the Americans' key local people turns out to be Don, who reunites with his son and daughter -- and lies to them about what really happened to their mother. Don's duplicity sets in motion a chain of events that ends in another outbreak of the rage virus, this time in the heart of this quarantine stronghold.If there's any hope for a cure, it lies with Don's children -- whose blood may have an antidote. A few Americans disobey orders to try to keep the kids alive in the face of deadly American snipers, poison gas, and incendiaries.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
As in the first film, the message seems to be that while victims of the rage virus have no choice about turning into mindless zombies, the uninfected army commanders and soldiers should be more compassionate and human, since they still know right from wrong. Trouble is, it's becoming increasingly evident that in this world, no matter what you do, it only means one thing: more zombies, more murder, and more gore.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Fox Atomic
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Cast: Catherine McCormack, Jeremy Renner, Robert Carlyle
Genre: Horror
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: May 10, 2007
DVD release: October 9, 2007
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong violence and gore, language and some sexuality/nudity.
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This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

FZNNJ
adult
 
Not as good as the first, but still good
This movie is less of a powerhouse that the first movie was but it is still decent. The language is stronger than in the first and the obvious conversations about sex seemed to be designed just to get the warning "sexual conduct" and to draw more people in. Unlike the first movie this movie has a much stronger anti military message, that being said, of the two good role models one of them is the soldier that disobeys orders, leaving the meaning inclined viewers to question what later on happens in the film, when the children follow the orders of the soldier that didn't follow orders and have a much better outcome. Try figuring that one out.The violence in this movie is pushed forward as the main plot device considering that some of the main parts of the movie are scenes and montages of people getting shot, lit on fire, killed with thumbs in the eyes method, firebombs, etc. The zombie's this time were not put as the main enemy which may disappoint big fans of the first movie, but the movie portrays the military as a whole acting like zombies. Some few unoriginal and sometimes down right idiotic plot devices keep the story moving, not for squeamish or sensitive viewers.

SopheexD
teen, 14 years old
 

xxhazyshadowsxx
teen, 17 years old
 
Pretty good
First off, I have to disagree with the man claiming movies like this are responsible for acts of violence. Movies/Games arent the cause, its dumb parents who dont teach their children right from wrong. Let me also add that there was violence WAY before technology. As for the movie, its still the same concept we all know and love. I thought it was good, it just didnt induce the same type of fear/isolation that the first one achieved so greatly.

Eirthbndr
teen, 17 years old
 
Bloody, sad, but a perfect Zombie film
I liked this movie a lot, a lot better than its prequel. But I do wish that they had gone a little deeper into the whole eye color thing, that would have been cool. If I had any kids, I would not let them see this until they were at least 16, it is that violent. There is a scene where the government decides just to kill everyone, and it is very.....err.......emotional?

Davina95
teen, 16 years old
 
SCARY!
I usually like horror films but this is too frightening. It's very disturbing!

 
I loved it. You may not.
I'm a fifteen year old girl, and I loved this movie. It DEFINITELY isn't for the squeamish, and is chock-full of gore and violence (just how us teens like it :)), but if you can get past the first maybe ten or fifteen minutes, it is a totally awesome movie. If you are a parent, you should figure out your kid's likes and dislikes before passing judgement of this movie. Some kids (or teens, or adults) are very impressionable and not into fast-paced thrillers, but some of us live for this stuff.

 
Great for kids of all ages!!!!
Jimmy, my four year old son, loved it!!! He really liked the scene where the zombies got sliced by the helicopter blades and when the woman got her eyes gouged out. He loves thrillers! Go see it!!!

pocketMAD
kid, 13 years old
 
NEVER SAW IITT
NEVER SAW ITTTTT

david02917
teen, 16 years old
 
A GREAT SEQUEL TO AN AWESOME MOVIE!
This film takes place 28 weeks after an infection started, and nearly wiped out all of England. London is rebuilding, but the virus is back and a boy and girl might have the cure.

kunkofilms2
teen, 14 years old
 
Not a bad sequel, with positive role models, kinda bloody...
With plot I thought it was one of the better sequels out there. With positive messages I think it had good two role models the main male and female military agents trying to save a kid even though it is against their orders, risking and losing their life to save the kids. Negative, it was a bit more bloody but then again it is a zombie movie so it's exactly what you expect.

fangningsheng
teen, 14 years old
 
Graphic says it all
I liked it, but not quite as good as 28 days later. Definetely NOT for anyone who is in the least bit squeamish. Expect graphic, gory violence and strong language. I would rate it R for strong graphic violence and gore, language, disturbing content and brief sexuality/nudity.

uytt2
adult
 
when is saw this movie i loved it from begining to end its scary violent and in a way realistic this one of the best zombie movies this year

JCRDTH
kid, 13 years old
 
Very, Very Scary and Graphic
it scared the crap out of me

IronZombie75
teen, 16 years old
 
Very scary and graphic violence. not for easily disturbed.
Extremely Gorey and Disturbing so not for under 12. I loved it though.

RyukGodOfDeath
teen, 17 years old
 
SCARY OR WHAT?
hmm, i think this and the SAW sequell beats all horrors! ermm, i wouldent say for people under my age, the most scariest movie i have ever seen! 17+

 
Unless my boyfriend got down on his hands and knees to beg me to watch this movie, I wouldn't even go near it!

Plague
parent
 
28 Weeks Later
Not a good sequel in my opinion. The beginning is more interesting than the first, but all in all, if this sequel had a better story, it would have been a great movie.

 
loved the movie and will watch it again and again ^-^ scary and one of the best zombie films i have ever gotten my hands on and i have seen a lot of zombie films, one of my favorite horror creatures. so unhuman but so human all the same.

LoveMovies
teen, 16 years old
 
Don't watch this If you get freaked out by zombies!
If you get scared by zombies I wouldnt watch this but apart form that one of the best zombie/death/scary movies I have ever seen :)

 
if you like to be scared and dont mind language and gore this is the most amazingly realistic zombie movie I have ever seen. adults only

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