Representations of Central London through '28 Days later' (2002)

‘28 Days Later’ is a 2002 post-apocalyptic zombie film directed by Danny Boyle (‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘Train Spotting’). The film is set in London after an outbreak of a virus called ‘Rage’ which has taken over the world. We follow the main protagonist Jim, played by actor Cillian Murphy (‘Inception’, ‘Peaky Blinders’), who has woken up from a coma in hospital 28 days after the outbreak has taken its effect with no idea what has happened and watch as he tries to find any survivors and make sense of this new world he as found himself in.

The film presents London in a more dystopian view painting the city in the light of total chaos, destruction and emptiness. This view of London is a far cry from the majority of bigger budget Hollywood style films where the city is shown predominantly as a bustling metropolis full of people and order.

’28 Days Later’ also plays on the notion of a great city being destroyed from the outside. As noted above the film was released in 2002 a year after the 2001 September 11^th terrorist attacks on New York and Washington that shook the world. When watching the film it is hard not to make the assumption that the nature film may be playing on certain anxieties at the time of an unknown outside threat completely destroying a world famous city.

The film may also be seen as to connote themes of loneliness and survival in the city. The main character seems to be dropped into a new city and situation and must learn to adapt quickly to survive. It could be argued that this element of the film is a comment on new people who move to London. In such a massive city with millions of people who you have never seen before around you it is as easy to feel alone and isolated as Jim in a city where there appears to be no one. The main character needs to adapt to his surroundings quickly much the same as outsiders who visit London for the very first time.

The final theme the film plays on is the traditional London stereotypes. When Jim first sets out to explore London the character is shown walking past some famous London landmarks and other iconography. These types of shots may have been used to symbolize the stereotypical views and associations that people have of London. Theses shots are then juxtaposed with the vast emptiness and emotive music creating and eerie feel to the film. Later on in the film Jim meets other survivors and seeks safety in a council flat. The flats are shown to be barricaded by old shopping trollies and its occupants are a London cabby with a cockney accent and his daughter who help save Jim and the other survivor he has met by killing the zombies chasing them with stolen police riot gear.  This also plays on the negative stereotypes that are associated with the working class in London.

To conclude ’28 days later seems to play on the classic stereotypes of London and its occupants and shows the city in alternative imaginaries of the city outside the realm of realism.

Alice Davies
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531 Words