Video: “28 Weeks Later” trailer
posted at 4:02 pm on April 15, 2007 by Allahpundit
Swiped shamelessly from Ace, who notes the obvious metaphor but doesn’t mention that the first movie, “28 Days Later,” also cast the (British) military as villain. Remember the end, after they’d beaten back the zombie hordes and decided it was time for a little gang rape to repopulate the species? That was in the fine tradition of George A. Romero himself, who made a zombie the hero opposite a psychotic captain in “Day of the Dead”, then used the climax of “Land of the Dead” to show a George W. Bush figure being consumed by a gasoline explosion with hundred-dollar bills fluttering around amid the flames. Hollywood loves the zombie/WoT allegory because zombies have no moral agency: they don’t kill because they want to, they kill because they have to, because they can’t help themselves and thus can’t be blamed for their actions in any meaningful sense. Which explains why almost all zombie flicks end with a final conflict among the human survivors.
There’s also no sense fighting them since their sheer numbers mean they always win. Of all the zombie flicks I’ve seen, the only two I can think of offhand where the zombies don’t overrun civilization are “Night of the Living Dead” and “Shaun of the Dead.” We’re bound to lose. Just accept it.
Click the image to watch.
Update: Islamists have their version of the zombie movie, too.
Update: I can’t believe I blanked on this abortion. Thanks to Treach for reminding me. That one wasn’t a traditional zombie movie insofar as the “zombies” not only had moral agency, they had absolute moral authority. I can’t critique it intelligently, though; the thought of the undead returning to life to vote just makes me giggle.
Blowback
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I’ll see it.
Mortis on April 15, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Shaun of the Dead…great movie. lol
EnochCain on April 15, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Absolutely can’t wait. Loved 28 Days Later and this looks just as good.
Gregor on April 15, 2007 at 4:12 PM
I can always find anti-military, anti-conservative, anti-traditional values, etc. bias in just about anything… but I didn’t get the vibe that the British military was being attacked in this… just that one group of a-holes, and I thought it was a great movie. I think it was a necessary part of the film where you’re supposed to identify with the “me against the world” feeling of the main characters.
Anyway, just wanted to toss in my feeling on that, because I can generally pick out bias where others would claim I am nitpicking, but I really didn’t feel this was anti-British military, because I didn’t feel like those guys represented “The Military”. I thought they represented a bunch of terrified very young men who’s lives (families, everything) had been taken away, in and unthinkable situation.
In a quick threadjack, how’s your weather there AP? We’ve gotten nothing but a little rain so far, despite predictions of up to 14 inches, and even 20 if you head a few miles out towards the mountains.
RightWinged on April 15, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Shaun of the Dead was an awesome movie. I’m looking forward to Hot Fuzz.
Iblis on April 15, 2007 at 4:18 PM
Don’t forget that Joe Dante episode of Masters of Horror, where the dead soldiers came back to life to vote Democrat.
Jim Treacher on April 15, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Or is that vote Democratic? I apologize for the error and I meant no offense.
Jim Treacher on April 15, 2007 at 4:37 PM
History has shown you do not need to come back from the dead to vote Democrat.
EnochCain on April 15, 2007 at 4:39 PM
Yes, but 4 out of 5 people that come back from the dead to vote do vote democrat :^)
db on April 15, 2007 at 4:42 PM
George A. Romero himself, who made a zombie the hero opposite a psychotic captain in “Day of the Dead”, then used the climax of “Land of the Dead” to show a George W. Bush figure being consumed by a gasoline explosion with hundred-dollar bills fluttering around amid the flames.
I especially liked the part at the end when the working-class zombies overrun the rich yuppies in their glass tower. Fight the power, zombies, fight the power!
Don’t even ask where Dennis Hopper was going with all that money. What was he going to spend it on, and where?
Let’s not forget that in Shaun it is an American satellite breaking up over southern England that causes the zombification…
Lehuster on April 15, 2007 at 4:47 PM
so if zombies come, can we feed the liberals to the zombies to get them to leave republicans alone?
Defector01 on April 15, 2007 at 4:53 PM
Eh, sometimes a monster movie is just a monster movie.
flipflop on April 15, 2007 at 5:02 PM
OTOH, terrorists as completely mindless brain-eaters has a ring of truth to it.
flipflop on April 15, 2007 at 5:05 PM
Heh. I clicked on one of Hot Air’s blogads to see this trailer days ago. Swiped from Ace? He may have swiped it from your righthand column, Allah.
laelaps on April 15, 2007 at 5:23 PM
I think one’s hard pressed to portray the Dennis Hopper character in Land of the Dead as a Bush metaphor.
Moreover, the military AS military was less of a villain in 28 Days Later than what they represented.
The zombies in 28DL were the complete absence of civilization;
The military (or rather, what the remnants of one unit were trying to establish) was an attempt at hyper-civilization — hanging on to the old world no matter what barbarism they had to engage in to do it. That they were military was merely an easy vehicle to connect their desire for order to that desire.
The protagonists were the happy medium.
28 Weeks Later looks like mass suckage though.
armylawyer on April 15, 2007 at 5:34 PM
Are you kidding? His most memorable line is, “We do not negotiate with terrorists.” Romero has admitted in interviews that the scene at the beginning of security forces gunning down crowds of zombies indiscriminately is a nod at Iraq.
Allahpundit on April 15, 2007 at 5:38 PM
So they are saying terrorists are zombies? Sweet. Hey they are just like zombies and can’t help blowing things up, we created them so its our fault. Heh. Like Black people can’t help their own destructive behavoir, Mexican can’t help crossing the border, etc.. At least liberals are consistent. Equal condescension for all!
Theworldisnotenough on April 15, 2007 at 6:03 PM
It’s great fun. I just watched it again this afternoon.
“It’s not hip-hop…it’s electro…”
Slublog on April 15, 2007 at 6:08 PM
sometimes a monster movie is just a monster movie.
Not Land of the Dead – the metaphor was as large, ponderous, and slow moving as… well, as a zombie!
Lehuster on April 15, 2007 at 6:27 PM
The movie will kick behind…who cares.
tomas on April 15, 2007 at 6:37 PM
Look at it this way, if zombies = terrorists then they can be killed with impunity, right?
I used to be a moonbat before I started reading and never once did I get anti-American vibes from the classics. Still don’t see it that way, just some good ol zombie killing fun. If you really want to be offended, check out some of the Italian horror.
Land of the Dead blew though.
Nice ad too.
SouthernDem on April 15, 2007 at 6:42 PM
One of the reviewers at AICN has seen the movie, says the political message is there, but it doesn’t hit you over the head.
Spoilers at the link.
Slublog on April 15, 2007 at 6:55 PM
To all those who can’t see the agenda behind the films:
Well, I won’t say 100% of the films are based on such an agenda, but as a former fan of the horror/sci-fi film industry (still a fan of the genre, less interested in the sausage-making), the behind-the scenes of these films often REEKS of politically-driven “social commentary.”
Find yourself a library that has “Cinefantastique” and dig through some interviews. Or just visit some random horror fan-sites – the “social commentary” angle is like a fetish, especially when preceded by the word “brilliant.”
Luckily, most of them suck at it, so a lot of the casual audience or even just non-fanatic audience just don’t see it. Occasionally it’s even the fans who “invent” that angle, when it wasn’t there – that happens with every genre.
Romero is a drooling idiot, BTW, and his “social commentary” is pretty explicit – it’s no secret that “Land of the Dead” was thinly disguised political hackery.
The Zombie Genre is basically a zombie itself, locked in its own conventions, much like most of Hollywood’s products. “Shaun” was good precisely because it mocked those conventions, but satire is usually a one-time deal (Police Squad seems to have avoided that trap).
Oh, how I long for actual independent films. You know, films not almost entirely derived from other popular films. They happen, occasionally, but usually they’re boring.
Merovign on April 15, 2007 at 7:02 PM
All true. Normally I’m the guy to point out those facts here in the comments, so I can’t wait to see the attacks you get from the “it’s only a movie” hive.
Consider the source: AICN. None of them are identify themselves or are considered by their peers as social conservatives or traditionalists.
ScottMcC on April 15, 2007 at 7:07 PM
It would only be appropriate for its greatest friend to help out seeing as most of its population…military included was pretty depleted. It is a simple formula and not neccessarily a devious one.
tomas on April 15, 2007 at 7:30 PM
The biggest problem I have with horror movies is that 9 times out of 10, 9 of the 10 notable characters are complete morons, and the other one is a bad guy.
“Event Horizon” was an exception in that at least one of the survivors made it (and saved another) through quick thinking and decisive action in an apparently hopeless situation, and another sacrificed themselves effectively to save others.
It was sort of a “flying pig” moment for horror movies.
I tend to prefer creepy to slasher, but creepy + action is my favorite.
Merovign on April 15, 2007 at 7:35 PM
Only humans have morality. zombies are not human therefor are not considered relavent. Those who hate humanity and think it’s evil don’t deserve human rights.
Egfrow on April 15, 2007 at 7:38 PM
I’m pretty hot to see this; which for me means I’ll put it in the Netflix queue the first week it comes out on DVD.
Land of the Dead was the ultimate synthesis of zombie horror and George Romero’s social subtext, meaning, in short, it was utter crap. Rich people bad. Poor people good. Zombies eating rich people good. Zombies eating poor people? Um… “They’re just trying to find their way.”
The solution? Screw ‘em all, plant your ass in the RV and head for… CANADA! So long, suckers!
saint kansas on April 15, 2007 at 7:48 PM
Eh, to the first, guess I didn’t find the movie memorable enough to notice that quote or draw the connection. Of course, Harrison Ford had the same line in Air Force One…
To the second, if he said it symbolized a chocolate cupcake’s gooey goodness, I’ll take him at his word. Doesn’t mean it comes across in film.
armylawyer on April 15, 2007 at 8:12 PM
Feeding them Democrats won’t work.
They crave BRAINZZZZZZZZZ!
Anil Petra on April 15, 2007 at 9:53 PM
I dunno – I don’t think the zombies are stand-ins for the terrorists in these movies. I generally see ‘em as the writer and/or director’s oh-so-subtle commentary on our dreadful corporate/consumerist culture, y’know, the one that stifles creativity, allows Republicans to consistently fool at least half the country, and generally serves as the capitalist version of the opiate of the masses.
But luckily for us, we have artistes such as George Romero and Joe Dante, who, through the sheer force of their intellect, can show us the light and hopefully allow us all to think exactly like them, and act exactly like them, and… hey, wait a minute!
(Of course we elite Hot Air readers all know that when the zombie horde comes, we gun
enthusiastsnuts will be humanity’s last, best hope!)All that said, “Shaun of the Dead,” and – to a lesser extent – Zack Snyder’s remake of “Dawn of the Dead,” rocked. (And please, God, don’t let Snyder screw up “Watchmen”…)
Levy on April 15, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Irritating attempts to spoil films I like by accussing them of ‘liberal agenda’s aside, I just think the whole idea of a sequel to 28 Days doesn’t seem like a very good idea. The original film seemed to give the zombie horror genre a relatively fresh spin on the idea, and the trailers I’ve seen for 28 weeks seem like what I’d expect from horror sequels from the 1980s
That is to say ‘they thought the problem was solved in the first movie…. THEY WERE WRONG!’
ehhh.
I’ll still probably see it, dammit.
Reaps on April 15, 2007 at 11:21 PM
All true.
After seeing 300, I am cautiously optimistic about Snyder’s helming Watchmen, but don’t expect much out of it. I’m not a fan of Moore’s writing because it’s less about story and more about being pseudo-literary and clever… Killing Joke totally fell apart at the end and all of those League of Public Domain Heroes books are the prime examples.
ScottMcC on April 16, 2007 at 12:46 AM
I kind of liked how Mr. Hyde literally ate one of the War of the Worlds Martians alive, while laughing, right before they zapped his ass.
Have you seen the trailer? Looks pretty cool to me. Idris Elba is the man. (By which I mean he’s a fine actor, not that he’s The Man. I apologize for the confusion.) I’ve liked him from Ultraviolet to The Wire, and it’s cool that he’s in a big summer movie.
Never did understand the reverence for Romero. Dawn of the Dead was great, but it wasn’t scary at all. Whereas the remake had me peeking through my fingers. And that was watching it on a 13-inch set!
Jim Treacher on April 16, 2007 at 1:58 AM
I liked the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (not the movie, of course, the screenplay for which was written by a friend of mine who had the pleasure of watching that incompetent hack of a director destroy it), but Watchmen is in my mind damn near perfect.
And I agree with your cautious optimism, not least of which is because based on Snyder’s post-”300″ comments, I don’t think he’ll turn it into some kind of inane anti-Bush/anti-American/anti-West screed of the kind that prevented “V for Vendetta” from being a better film. (Which to be fair is what Moore intended, I suppose…)
People who don’t understand that the fascists are who we’re fighting make me giggle! And then burst into uncontrollable sobbing, of course..
Levy on April 16, 2007 at 2:10 AM
The original one was a metaphor for the AIDS virus, right?
E. M. on April 16, 2007 at 8:31 AM
I have to agree here. Maybe this latest one is an attack on the US military, but I didn’t see it in the first one.
But honestly, after watching a bunch of Peta freaks gets the blame for the death of civilization, I had a hard time feeling any anti-conservative bias.
Esthier on April 16, 2007 at 9:46 AM
Ace is more perceptive than I am, I came away from the thing thinking the Americans were the good guys. Trying to repopulate and all that. Missed the deliberate release of the infected chick part.
So the evil Americans want to weaponize the stuff? Let’s rip off of Alien a little more. And what a craptastic weapon anyway, like Allah says, zombie outbreaks always deal humanity a losing hand.
Especially when you’re dealing with fast zombies. Just sayin’, y’know?
Anyway, I’ll probably still check it out. Anyone who reinforces or second guesses their political beliefs based on zombie movies is kind of an idiot.
John from OPFOR on April 16, 2007 at 11:35 AM
That’s because it was okay to like the President back then. He was a Democrat you know. Then a cowboy, unilateral, hard-charging Pres comes along and it’s like, “WHOA! Reverse Course!!”
The best part about 28DL was that some enviroterrorists released the RAGE virus on the UK. They were busting out some poor repressed monkeys. LOL.
Kai on April 16, 2007 at 12:32 PM
I like the idea of the League, but to me it just sorta degenerated into an oh-so-clever deconstruction of Victorian fantasy literature. I feel for your buddy the screenwriter… Norrington totally f—ed that movie up.
I would’ve given up on comics about 10 years ago if I didn’t want to keep up with my buddy from high school, Johnny (I think I’m supposed to say “John” now), who draws a comic series called Planetary and has been drawing new X-Men comics for the guy that did Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly.
Hey, Johnny lives in NYC–you guys should have him on RedEye the next time you talk anything comic book related. He’s quite a character and would’ve been a helluva guest to talk the death of Captain America (he drew these great WWII-era poster style covers for a comic series of The Cap’ right after 9/11).
ScottMcC on April 16, 2007 at 12:41 PM
just three nitpicks:
1) No zombies in 28DL — people infected with rage. Remember, the protagonists called them “the infected.”
2) The military unit in 28DL, to me, seemed to be a metaphor for an engineered, socialist society. Hardly a society which individualists (using William F. Buckley’s definition) would condone, or attempt to create. I thought 28DL portrayed well how the horrors of such a society compare to the horrors of the rage-infected anarchy outside. But that might just be my political leanings filtering the material.
2a) I guess 2 kind of agrees with armylawyer’s take on the military group in 28DL.
3) I like Danny Boyle’s (28DL, Trainspotting, Millions, etc.) work. He isn’t directing 28WL but he is the executive producer. I imagine the quality of the film will be directly proportional to his influence on it.
Jens on April 16, 2007 at 6:20 PM
Good point! If they weren’t so worried about some dumb monkey, they wouldn’t have decimated their whole country.
ScottMcC, John Cassady is an amazing artist! Plus he’s a handsome young gentlemen if you like that sort of thing (I do). I agree, he’d be great on TV.
Jim Treacher on April 16, 2007 at 7:13 PM
John is incredibly talented and also did the Ringling Brother’s circus posters for the past few years. He’s great on camera… I cast him as the demonic bassist in a music video project we did in high school–he was totally hilarious!
If you want to get in touch with him for RedEye, I’ll send you his e-mail.
ScottMcC on April 17, 2007 at 1:15 AM