Film Review: 28 Weeks Later (2007)

Release Date: April 26th, 2007 (London premiere)
Directed by: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Written by: Rowan Joffe, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, E. L. Lavigne, Jesus Olmo
Music by: John Murphy
Cast: Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, Catherine McCormack, Imogen Poots, Idris Elba, Mackintosh Muggleton, Amanda Walker

UK Film Council, DNA Films, Fox Atomic, 100 Minutes

Review:

“It all makes sense. They’re executing code red. Step 1: Kill the infected. Step 2: Containment. If containment fails, then Step 3: Extermination.” – Scarlet

I haven’t seen this since the theater and I never had much urge to revisit it. However, I did revisit and review its predecessor 28 Days Later, so I figured this deserved a rewatch while that movie was still fresh in my head.

Strangely, until rewatching this, I didn’t know that Jeremy Renner and Idris Elba were in this. It came out before I really knew who they were, so their appearances here must’ve just flushed down the memory hole.

For the most part, the performances in this movie are pretty great from Renner, Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Harold Perrineau and others. Even the kids were okay and didn’t annoy the shit out of me. They were pretty mature and played their parts very solidly.

There are a few highpoints in this movie.

The opening is pretty fucking incredible while being both parts heartbreaking and infuriating. Then the middle part that sees the zombies overrun the “safe” streets where the military literally starts killing innocent people to neutralize the threat is scary, effective and well done. Everything after that moment is decent too.

My biggest issue with this movie, though, is that the pacing was all over the place and the first half of the film, after the opening, is so slow I was bored to tears. I also, for whatever reason, couldn’t connect to the characters or their stories. I just didn’t give a shit about anything happening in this film until shit really hit the fan. But even then, I wasn’t anywhere near as invested in the characters as I should’ve been.

Overall, this isn’t a bad film but it’s not a particularly good one or a movie that I’ll probably ever have the urge to watch again.

Also, I’m still waiting on that third movie that never came but unless Danny Boyle, himself, directs it, I’m probably not going to care much at this point.

Rating: 6/10

Film Review: Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

Also known as: Burned to Light (working title)
Release Date: May 15th, 2000 (Cannes)
Directed by: E. Elias Merhige
Written by: Steven Katz
Music by: Dan Jones
Cast: John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Cary Elwes, John Aden Gillet, Eddie Izzard, Udo Kier, Catherine McCormack, Ronan Vibert

Saturn Films, Long Shot Pictures, BBC Films, 92 Minutes

Review:

“Death of centuries! Moonchaser! Blasphemer! Monkey! Vase of prehistory. Finally to Earth, and finally born.” – F. W. Murnau

I don’t know what it is about Nosferatu but every film within its grasp is great, whether that’s the original 1922 silent film, the 1979 remake or this, a movie that appears to be a biopic about F. W. Murnau and the production of the original Nosferatu but is actually a fictional reimagining that makes Murnau a vicious tyrant behind the camera and his star a real vampire.

Obviously, this isn’t the true story of the making of Nosferatu but it is one hell of a fun ride through an alternate dimension. It’s also well written, stupendously acted and features incredible makeup, great set recreations, as well as several tropes and techniques from the silent era reworked with great care into this modern picture.

I love this film and from the moment I saw it in 2001 or so, it quickly became one of my all-time favorite vampire pictures. It also solidified my love and respect for the talents of John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. In fact, Dafoe would get an Academy Award nomination for this role. The film was also nominated for makeup.

Beyond those two, the rest of the cast is also superb. I especially liked Udo Kier in this and it’s one of my favorite roles he’s played over his very long and storied career. Additionally, Eddie Izzard, Catherine McCormack, Cary Elwes and Aden Gillet all put in memorable performances, each adding so much complexity and nuance to the overall production.

The director, E. Elias Merhige, hasn’t done a whole lot over the years and the only other film of his I’ve seen is Suspect Zero. I remember enjoying it at the time but this movie is certainly his magnum opus. I’m not sure why he doesn’t make more movies but as great as this one is, his lack of motion pictures feels like a great loss for cinema.

Shadow of the Vampire is pretty close to perfect from top-to-bottom and it’s just a neat, clever story featuring one of the best monsters that has ever graced the silver screen. Dafoe actually is perfect and the brightest spot in this already bright film. Malkovich is damn good, as well, and the two have incredible chemistry. They’re both villainous and it’s just interesting watching this play out, trying to see which one is the greater villain, overall.

In real life, however, Murnau was said to be great to work for and a very sensitive artist. Also, Max Schreck wasn’t a blood sucking murderer, as he’d go on to live a married life while enjoying success in many films outside of just Nosferatu.

Despite this not being real, it makes me wish that there were more movies like this. Films that would take something really cool from history and just do something bonkers but respectable with it.

Although, I guess that’s what makes this motion picture so unique and so special. It truly feels like one of a kind and it was crafted with a genuine love of the original film it tapped into.

Rating: 9.5/10
Pairs well with: the two Nosferatu movies, as well as Bram Stoker’s Dracula.