28 Weeks Later (or, BRAINSSSSS!!!)

Sequels, sequels, sequels...

Let's wheel out that old chestnut. Was this one Empire or Re-loaded.

I didn't hold out much hope but the good reports started coming in. Seeing as we'd just rewatched the original (after watching Boyle's latest, Sunshine) we went along. And it was pretty strong.

More money, more guns, more gore, more, more, more... This is the Aliens school of sequel production, and they pull it off.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, whose excellent feature Intacto creeped the fuck out of me, shoulders the director's load this time and the transition is smooth (though the continuity is helped by the rumour that Boyle directed the first scene). Fresnadillo's eye for framing adds an eerie quality to the quieter scenes yet he tends to get a little bogged down when it gets to dealing with masses of the infected.

Carlyle was fantastic as always but he had an annoying ability to pop up in the most unlikely places. The kids, who are the core of the film are decent. The girl especially has the most amazing eyes. If she keeps in the game I reckon she's going to be a big name. Oh, and Boyle favourite, Rose Byrne, whom, after seeing her live, I am completely annoyed by. She's not actually acting, that is what she is like in real life. Urgh.

More money means more shots of empty London. More infected means more gore. I seriously had to close my eyes for about 20 seconds at one stage. Not a pretty sight.

There is also some wonderful geographic anomalies. Though not anywhere near as bad as last year's Children of Men.

All in all, a worthy sequel. Maybe not as creepy as the original but at the same time it doesn't have all that guff about repopulating the world at the end of it.

Check it.