Shockingly stupid film. Here's why... (SPOILERS)

RazziDazzi

Bad horror films tend to hit bottom when their characters make idiotic choices and leave the audience scratching their head wondering, `why the hell he do that?'  By this standard, 28 DAYS LATER. plummets to bottom of the bad movie barrel.  Rarely have  film characters made such consistently, stupefying decisions.  Skip this flick unless you're meeting with friends, have a couple of beers, and want an impromptu session of  Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Okay, how dumb are the characters?  Let's start.  (SPOILER ALERT AGAIN)

-- Our lead Female finds a guy who just woke up from a coma, so at night when the Infected roam, she goes to sleep and lets him stand guard. without telling him not to light candles as they will attracted the Infected.

-- So he lights the candle, not being bright enough himself to see the danger.  Then he starts watching video tapes!!!  (Where the hell is the electricity coming from!!!??)  The Infected see the light and attack. What a surprise.  As a result, she has to murder her partner. By this point, you wish she was dead too.

-- Next, they find the Father and his Daughter.  The Father is extremely cautious guarding his child, wears goggles and layered clothing to protect against accidental infection (as did our two initially survivors).  But protective clothing is too intelligent a response so our characters promptly abandon the idea and go on a road trip sans any protective gear.  And what do you know.Father gets infected when accidentally blood drops into his eyes.  He's killed.  Boy, I didn't see that twist coming.  Guess, if he wore protective gear like he did in the beginning of the film, we wouldn't have this `twist'.

But I'm getting ahead of myself as more idiocy abounds prior to Father's death.

--  Our merry crew of four has to get to Manchester, and keep in mind that the Infected tend to roam in the darkness.  So what do they do.. Take a dark tunnel short cut!  Who's idea is this idiocy.. The father, who before was so cautious with his daughter's safely, but now's he's feeling. I guess. lucky. Well, the decision almost costs them their lives when the get a flat tire in the tunnel (guess you did see that `twist' coming either).

--  Next comes the stop at the supermarket.  Are our foursome quick in restocking their supplies and moving on.  Nope, they play, quibble about alcohol.. It's not like the sun is setting because next, they.

-- have a picnic!!!!  Out in the open!  How dumb can you get?!?!  Then instead of racing to the refuge in Manchester, they have a leisurely walk! Guess it helps the digestion.

-- Now these amateur idiots go for pro status by spending the night. out in the OPEN WITH A CAMPFIRE ABLAZE!!  (didn't some one get killed when the infected were attracted by a candle!)

This idiocy continues.  People in the theater are starting to laugh by now. I'll spare you more of this mirth, but I got to mention one supremely, idiotic move by our hero.  How does he rescue the two girls from the mansion???  BY UNLEASHING AN INFECTED SOLDIER  INTO THE BUILDING!!!!!!!!! Well, the infection spreads and nearly kills our gals!!!  I'm ready to throw popcorn at the screen by this point.  What a moron this guy is!  And every assault gun he finds. he leaves behind, cause using his thumbs ( I kid you not) is so much more effective.

AHHHHHH!!!!!  And the damn story moves at a snail's pace!

score 1/10

RazziDazzi 6 July 2003

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0821205/