Second Shot

Fucking fuck fuck! I want one of these! Now, God dammit!

Gaaaaaahhh!!

Trust me, I will get one of these. Oooh yes!

I rather enjoyed 28 Days Later. It was a very refreshing look on the undead with them being able to run and chase, and generally being more frightening that the classic slow-walking zombie. And it actually ended in a fitting way, closing up the scenario of the hunted in the safe hands of the country’s armed forces.

So when I watched a trailer for 28 Weeks Later – which was the first time I had heard of the sequel – and saw that the US/NATO Forces were arriving to London to help out with the reconstruction of humanity, I kind of felt my heart sink. Why would we need them? Why were they here in the first place? Who asked for their help? But more importantly, this essentially British film was probably going to contain more Americans than Brits. And that annoyed me more than anything.

Not directed by Danny Boyle (but who is executive producer, likely due to the fact he was directing the rather fabulous Sunshine), the premise is more of the same. And in a good way. Control of the Rage virus has been achieved within the Isle of Dogs, where the uninfected live, but nothing is certain outside of the boundary. And it soon becomes apparant that there are still a good many of zombies running around and chasing people. One thing leads to another, ending with Robert Carlyle running away from the safe house he was sharing with his wife and others, all the way to the Isle.

Crazily, or I suppose as to be expected, they bring in a potentially infected person, find out that they are infected, and who then bites other people. Mass biting and vasts amount of blood fly everywhere and everything is back to square one. Hazzah! because now it’s time for the real fun to begin.

And you’ll soon remember by the direction of the film takes its cues from the original; fast motion, quick cuts, sometimes leaving bits out for your imagination. It’s all done very well and certain gives a good fright at times, along with moments of gut-wrenching, cringe-worthy action. Again, it’s all about survival and not trying to battle the infected, something nicely portrayed by the armed forces knowing and shouting about being overrun by the mass of infected after they break out of their containment room. Most definately ‘edge-of-your-pants’ stuff.

It also follows the classic ‘one-after-another’ script of the escaping survivors falling down to their doom. And there’s a real feel for them, making you want them all the survive yet you know it just can’t last. They can’t all make it out alive, that’s just not game. So when they do, they do so in a manner to make you feel disgusted for their loss. Well, it did for me.

So, it turns out that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, possibly on par with the original. A good thing, I can assure you, although whether this is something you really have to see on the big screen is another topic. If you like your horror, most definately go out. Otherwise, I’m sure you can wait for the rentals.

Oh, and there was a real wuss of a guy watching the film at the cinema, gasps of disgust and other such mutterings. I bet he had nightmares that night. Wuss.

It’s nice to be at the right place, at the right time, when something of an achievement occurs. Over at Thunderbolt Games, our Editor made aware that my review – yes, my review – of Hotel Dusk: Room 215 landed right on the money of being the 1000th – that’s right, read it again, 1000th – review on the site!

I had seen the article up for public viewing earlier this week but hadn’t taken any notice, but to see that four digit number makes me happy.

Hopefully, well, not hopefully but almost certainly, Gamesrant will reach its 1000th post. And I say post because we haven’t bothered to split the numbering system of our articles. Currently we’re at 235 (Guitar Hero 2 on the Xbox360); this will serve as a nice time-capsule moment that I’ll bury here with further posts and forget where I put it.

Anyway. Horrah! for me.