What The End Means

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    How does one come up with a scenario such as that of the zombie apocalypse? Why? People have told tales of, and even attempted to predict, the end of the world as we know it for thousands of years. It all ultimately comes down to fear of the unknown.
     Even though at one time man did indeed survive without the "hand-holding" benefits of society one can't help but wonder if the apple would taste as good after being spoiled. The collapse of society is also a recurring theme throughout these types of films as well, and especially so within 28 Days Later. With the collapse of society comes the collapse of our current moralistic views. With the collapse of our moralistic views comes the breakdown of our values. With the breakdown of our values comes the breakdown of humanity. People "know" this, whether they are aware of it or not, and that is part of what makes such a scenario so appealing and uncomfortable to fathom.
    Society holds a collective purpose, whether it be to live and prosper or to wither and decay. Presently, if you go against society, you are punished with fines, jail-time, or possible execution. In "zombie society", if you go against society, you are eaten and/or forced to become part of said society. Such is the nature of fascism.

Where The End Takes Place

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     When one usually thinks of an apocalyptic zombie film, the thought of a decaying urban setting, littered with fires and half eaten corpses, usually also comes to mind. In this sense, at least initially, 28 Days Later is no different. The film opens with our main character, Jim, waking up to find himself in the middle of London, alone. The stereotypical urban zombie setting portrayed  is, although very well depicted and fitting, nevertheless somewhat undifferentiated from all the other attempts to play out this "what if" scenario. Then again, maybe in order to truly capture us as the audience it needs to be this way. After all, the whole zombie apocalypse scenario was ultimately conceived out of man's fear for the collapse of society. This setting is somewhat quickly changed though, after Jim meets the other three survivors,  and is taken out into a more rural England. The rest of the film takes place in these rural areas. With the fall of society comes the fall of society's labors. Although I think it wise to get out of the city, where most of the undead will likely be, there is something to be said for the nooks and crannies one can find within such a place that is unknown amidst the shadowy woods of the rural.

The Beginning of The End

The film 28 Days Later is, in my opinion, the film that launched the zombie apocalyptic genre into the modern era. I've seen the film a few times myself, and always find it enjoyable to watch it again with someone else who has yet to see it themselves. Unlike its predecessors, the film seems to give a more realistic detailed scenario for which there are raging zombies running about the streets. Detailed to the extent that the origin and cause of the "virus", that causes one to become enraged uncontrollably, is terrifyingly possible. Add those to the fact that within the film the "zombies" aren't your typical crippled chasers, but most likely faster than you, and there is definitely a sub-surfacing fear that can be taken away from this movie-going experience.