Forgotten Frights is back! To celebrate the second anniversary of our annual horror movie roundup, every weekday for the next month we're going to sound off on a scary good sequel (or, if we want some cheese with our corn syrup, a schlocky second), ruminating on the returns of our favorite monsters, murderers, heroes (or heroines), creepies, crawlies, chills and thrills.
What came before: The original 28 Days Later was a fast paced horror film about a young man who wakes up from a coma to find London deserted. It turns out the city has been evacuated thanks to a vicious, fast-acting virus that turns its victims into fast, strong, violent, zombie-like monsters. The original stars Cillian Murphy and is directed by Danny Boyle. This indie-style, fast-paced film style and feel revamped the zombie genre.
What remains: The sequel picks up in London six months after the virus has spread, the city is occupied by American military who are trying to secure a small part of London to contain survivors of the virus and reunite families. The plot centres around two kids who return from a refugee camp trying to find their family. They're helped and guided by a military doctor played by Rose Byrne.
Why it deserves a second (or third, or fourth) chance:
- This movie rocks a jacked cast! Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau and Idris Elba. But I still miss Cillian Murphy.
- Though Danny Boyle isn't directing this time, the feel and style is still there! The style is exciting and fast-paced but never feels overdone.
- I love when a newer movie still makes a real effort with practical effects and makeup. They nailed it with the makeup, enhancing the freaky infected zombie look.
- The plot is stand-alone from the original and it's a bit more complicated and twisty. They weren't afraid to get rid of main characters and the filmmakers tried to up the stakes by making the virus fast-acting and the story more violence-driven and complicated. The writers explain the original but this film is enough of a story to please audiences that haven't seen the original.
- I liked the two kids as the lead characters! They added a different feel for the film, instead of a lot of politics and adult problems. The kids made everything uncomplicated and gave it a different perspective. They weren't totally innocent and they understood what was happening but I felt myself rooting for them more than I normally would!
By Isa Montagnese
Dream cast: Gene Wilder. That's it.
