
Like many other horror subgenres, the zombie movie has lasted for many years simply because of how creatively writers and filmmakers can alter the theme. Audiences love seeing the undead roaming various landscapes that we’ve never seen them occupy before. They love to see zombie movies that expand the concept into a more real-world scenario, like an out-of-control contagion or an armed agent. And many viewers are turning on so they can get their fill of gore and terror.
Many of these types of movies will focus on a small group of survivors trying to rebuild their lives while trying to wipe out as many hordes of the undead as possible. The mere mention of zombies almost immediately indicates some form of impending apocalypse and we are taken on their journey to find out who will live and who will die.
This hope of survival is diminished as each party member is chosen one by one. And of the films featured here in our list, all hope is lost, because everyone dies!
In this follow-up to the awesome 28 Days Later based on Danny Boyle’s infection, we see the military arrive to help save the day; brought in to help bring stability and preventative measures to help contain and control the outbreak in desolate London.
Unfortunately, these “preventive measures” do not seem to go so far as to allow a concierge to have access to a highly secure room. A room containing an infected victim, who happens to be the janitor’s wife. Afterwards, all hell breaks loose, again. Despite the army’s best efforts, the epidemic quickly spreads among the new population and the decision is made to bomb the entire district, killing everyone.
28 Weeks Later certainly takes a fresh approach to its predecessor, managing to expand the story while focusing on characters sitting on both sides of the fence; the characters you hope will survive, and they usually do. However, this movie makes you doubt that, especially given the ending that audiences had to endure.
Just when you think a small handful of survivors have managed to escape, flying across the sea towards France (where the infection is believed to have yet to reach), we are given a very brief visual addendum. A horde of infected people are seen running towards the iconic Eiffel Tower in the distance as it appears the infection has spread across the continent.