28 Weeks Later

Last week for our MBB1 class, we were asked to watch a movie in preparation for our new topic about pathogens. 28 Weeks Later is a science fiction thriller that chronicles the spread of a virus in England called the Rage Virus.

Photo from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_Weeks_Later

Infection of the virus is almost instantaneous-- blood starts pouring out of eyes, mouth and nose, muscles spasm and twitch violently, turning the victim into a rabid flesh and blood hungry creature with just one drop of infected blood or saliva. Because of its virulence, an outbreak can quickly spread and infect a whole city in a matter of hours, and as seen in its prequel 28 Days Later, seven weeks to wipe out a whole country and decimate civilization as we know it.

Seven months after the initial outbreak, the United States Army steps in to disinfect and quarantine England. In London, they rebuild a community and facilitate repatriation. A possible cure to the rage virus infection is found when two minors, Andy and Tammy, escape the barricade only to find their mother still alive after an attack of the infected. The mother appears to be heterochromic, a genetic mutation that leads to two different eye colors, and a scientist hypothesizes that this genetic anomaly is the key to a vaccine.

All hell breaks lose when the husband visits the woman and kisses her, only to be infected with Rage. The Army tries to quarantine everyone but some of the infected manages to infiltrate the quarantine, prompting the Command Center to implement Code Red, an order which initiates non-targeted killings to eliminated everyone on the ground.

The scientist and a rogue sniper tries to save Andy and Tammy in hope of eventually finding a cure for the virus. The last few minutes of the movie however do not reveal the fate of the two.

28 Weeks Later is directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, starring Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Mackintosh Muggleton, and Imogen Poots.

Blogpost by: Criselle David