28 Days Later is a 2002 British post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Danny Boyle. With a screenplay written by Alex Garland, the film stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Noah Huntley, Brendan Gleeson and Christopher Eccleston. Set in Great Britain, just after the turn of the 21st century, the story depicts the breakdown of society following the accidental release of a highly contagious virus and focuses upon the struggle of four survivors to cope with the ruination of the life they once knew.

A critical and commercial success, the film is widely recognised for images of a deserted London, and was shot almost entirely on digital video. The film spawned the 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later, as well as the graphic novel 28 Days Later: The Aftermath.

Style and inspiration

On the DVD commentary, Boyle and Garland frequently call it a post apocalyptic, horror and zombie film, commenting on scenes that were specific references to George A. Romero’s original Dead trilogy. However, during the initial marketing of the film Boyle did try to distance the film from such labels. Boyle identified John Wyndham‘s The Day of the Triffids as Garland’s original inspiration for the story. Danny Boyle says that the film is not a science fiction horror film but rather a drama in that environment

Cast

• Cillian Murphy - Jim
• Naomie Harris - Selena
• Brendan Gleeson - Frank
• Megan Burns - Hannah
• Christopher Eccleston - Major Henry West
• Noah Huntley - Mark
• Stuart McQuarrie - Sergeant Farrell
• Ricci Harnett - Corporal Mitchell
• Luke Mably - Private Clifton
• Leo Bill - Private Jones
• Junior Laniyan - Private Bell
• Ray Panthaki - Private Bedford
• Sanjay Rambaruth - Private Davis
• Marvin Campbell - Private Mailer