Overview
- Alex Garland, the writer behind the iconic 28 trilogy, cites Resident Evil as a major influence on the quick movements of the rage zombies.
- Garland intends to evoke a heightened sense of fear by featuring zombies that move at a rapid pace, akin to their portrayal in Resident Evil.
- The Last of Us also played a significant role in shaping 28 Years Later, notably through its exploration of a child-parent relationship.
28 Years Later, the eagerly awaited sequel from Danny Boyle, has captivated horror enthusiasts with its newly released trailer, showcasing ferocious infected beings that promise to deliver chills. Writer Alex Garland opens up about the iconic video game that influenced the portrayal of these menacing rage zombies.
The trailer for 28 Years Later offers a spine-tingling glimpse into the film, featuring scenes of savage zombies racing down hills, heaps of skulls, and an intense moment where a zombie unexpectedly emerges from a field behind star Jodie Comer. There was speculation among fans that the “field zombie”could be played by Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, a regular in previous films, but this theory has since been debunked; it was actually portrayed by newcomer Angus Neill. Garland, in past interviews, has acknowledged inspirations from classic horror, including George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and the 1951 novel, The Day of the Triffids. He also referenced the impact of the film Kes in his writing process for 28 Years Later.
In an enlightening discussion with GQ, Garland revealed that the rapid movements of the rage zombies were significantly influenced by the classic survival horror video game, Resident Evil. He spent time playing it shortly before penning the script for 28 Days Later, which rekindled his enthusiasm for the zombie genre. Garland noted that while the slow-moving zombies did not instill fear, the fast, erratic movements of the zombie dogs startled him, convincing him of the potential for heightened horror in rapid zombie movements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVbt8qG7Fl8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVbt8qG7Fl8
This realization led Garland to craft zombies that exhibit significantly quicker movements, aiming to replicate the fear that he experienced while confronting the swift zombie dogs in Resident Evil. Historically, zombies have often been depicted as slow, lumbering creatures, thanks to Romero’s foundational contributions to the genre. However, the release of Boyle’s 28 Days Later in 2002 transformed conventional thinking by portraying the infected as frenzied entities, capable of racing and capturing their prey in a matter of seconds.
Recently, Garland engaged in a conversation with The Last of Us‘s creator Neil Druckmann during an episode titled Creator to Creator. He disclosed that the acclaimed series influenced 28 Years Later, not only in terms of aesthetics but also by incorporating a compelling child-parent relationship between characters Jamie (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Spike (Alfie Williams). This dynamic draws parallels to the memorable journeys of Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us. Garland boldly stated that he considers The Last of Us superior to 28 Days Later, which certainly raises the ante as anticipation builds for the film’s release.
Look forward to the premiere of 28 Years Later in theaters on June 20, 2025.
Source: GQ on YouTube