The Directors Cut

Directors Cut: For Director Danny Boyle and Writer Alex Garland, making their audience aware of the dangerous reality of the world they inhabit has become their signature style in relating a story. In pursuing to confront the preeminent struggle of the often dark, chaotic, and anarchical nature of human life, more often than not, very little exception is made.

Nevertheless, we are always conflicted somehow in knowing that the world projected on screen is not far from the reality we have created today. It is in this that “28 Days Later” strikes a nervous chord with viewers, inspiring emotions of angst and despair. Taking into account the many number of biological and chemical threats which society, as a whole, must endure today, consider the fact that the greater majority of these threats are man made.

Entering a world four weeks after an unidentified and irreversible virus is introduced through an epidemic outbreak, Jim (Cillian Murphy) awakes from a coma locked in a lone and abandoned London hospital. Once being reintroduced into the world after suffering from a vehicle collision in the midst of the ensuing chaos, Jim finds himself alone yet again. Stumbling through the debris and aftermath of a seemingly post-apocalyptic Central London, Jim begins to understand that the world he expected to find may no longer exist.

“People killing people.” This said by the conflicted, though sympathetic, and still very compassionate Maj. Henry West (Christopher Eccleston); whom together with his British military unit have established a military holding in which they host “… the answer to infection.” After a painful and unsettling encounter filled with abandonment and an ever growing sense of isolation, Jim finds a cast of characters, each as human and scarred as himself. Jim is quick to realize, “We need them just as much as they need us.”

Though after becoming infected with Rage, his attachment to these characters comes to an abrupt end, as Jim is confronted with the ultimatum of quickly disposing of his infected companions in a highly disturbing and inhumane manner. To Jim, this is an obstructive realization of such a grave state of existence; only gradually awakening to the reality which surrounds him after falling into a state of awe, shock, and denial.

Although seemingly an uncompassionate and disregardful of others in ensuring their own survival, the undertones and inconsistent development between Jim and Selena (Naomie Harris), proves to be their strength in this forsaken ordeal. Their own sympathy for Hannah (Megan Burns), further supports their efforts towards survival, while also invoking a sense of hope.

Like in his work on “The Beach,” Writer Alex Garland pairs distant, otherwise incomparable characters, which sympathize with one another, revealing the human effects to this story. Although categorically a Horror film, “28 Days Later” approaches the genre in an unexpected and highly unconventional manner; driving many rich story elements with deep, dynamic characters that draw an audience towards an unpredictable and suspenseful closure.

Editors Cut: The Special Features of this Widescreen Special Edition release are well substantial, providing a truly supplemental insight through the Development, Production, and Insparation behind “28 Days Later.” The featurette, “Pure Rage: The Making of 28 Days Later,” provides an account of the international climate which argues to the plausibility of an outbreak the scale of Writer Alex Garlands “28 Days Later.” Taking into account the development of Cloning, Gene Therapy, Stem Cell Research and Bio-Chemical attacks of the past two decades in world affairs, this decisive look into the reality of the Twenty-First Century will challenge the way in which you live the everyday life.

Additional materials include three Alternate Endings, Animated Storyboards, and Still Photo Galleries with Audio Commentary by Director Danny Boyle and Writer Alex Garland. The context of the Audio Commentary, as an over-simplification, are simply entertaining, insightful, and both highly educational and informal on a scene-by-scene basis throughout the film. An additional Jacknife Lee Music Video provides an interesting montage of the film, retelling the many accounts through musical narration.

Arguably the most attractive of these features are the inclusion of Director Danny Boyles Alternate Endings, with full Audio Commentary and detailed reviews and debate on the Final Theatrical Release. Additional Extended and Deleted Scenes, with further Audio Commentary, develop a concise and full exploration of “28 Days Later.”

Final Cut: To suggest that “28 Days Later” should be considered as yet another addition to the Horror genre, amongst a number of “Stamped and Pressed” films, neglects to recognize the Cinematic and Literary prestige of Director Danny Boyle and Writer Alex Garland. Although a Horror film nevertheless, “28 Days Later” is the work credited to one of modern Cinemas most original, expressive, and unconventional creative collaborations of the past decade.

Conventional Horror films use graphic imagry, if not over emphasise its presence, to expliot the Human expression of emotion and thought. The moderate application of graphic imagry in “28 Days Later” speaks to both the authentic and masterful use of Cinema and Story; creating memorable emotions through Story and Character, only then revealing the skillfull reflection of eruptive imagry to reinforce genuien emotion.