1. 28 Days Later

2. Plot Summary
A powerful virus escapes from a British research facility when a group of animal activists try to release some enclosed apes. Transmitted through a drop of blood and devastating within seconds, the virus locks those infected into a permanent state of dangerous rage. Within 28 days the country is overwhelmed and a handful of survivors begin their attempts to salvage a future. Little do they know that the virus is not the only threat they must encounter.

3. Description of characters
Jim: a bicycle courier who lived in Deptford, London with his parents. He was involved in a car accident and ended up in a coma. Precisely 28 days later he awakens from his coma only to find that the entire city had suffered a spread of Rage virus.
Selena: a young woman who lived in London. After her family became infected with the virus she hid in a barricaded shop with another survivor named Mark. She adopted a more serious attitude towards the current situation and believed "staying alive is as good as it gets".

4. Hannah: daughter of Frank
Hannah: daughter of Frank. She and her father enclosed themselves in their apartment, but were forced to leave with Jim and Selena due to a short supply of water
Frank: was a cabdriver in London who lived with his wife and daughter Hannah in an apartment. His wife was killed when the virus broke loose and he and his daughter were able to barricade their apartment building for safety.
Mark: a young man who lived in London with his parents and sister. During the outbreak of the virus, he hid in a barricaded shop with Selena. He was killed by Selena herself after he was bitten.
Military Men: a group of nine ex-military men who lured survivors into their “secured home” with false testimonies of a cure. They personally cared only for their own lives and satisfaction.

6. Rhetorical Situation
The British film 28 Days Later, released in 2002, had great success in both the box office and DVD sales. As mentioned before, the plot of this motion picture revolves around the destruction of British society through the release of an extremely contagious and dangerous “rage” virus. There is also a continuous effort by a group of survivors to try and cope with the catastrophic event taking place around them

7. This film contains many of the conventions one would find in the “zombie” genre in motion pictures. Like many “zombie” genre films, the surviving members of society seek help and protection from higher members of society such as authority figures. In the case of 28 Days Later, the survivors sought protection in a fortress which was protected by several soldiers. However, these authority figures of society adopted cruel behaviors in an effort to try and restore a sense of how life was like before this terrible event.

8. The director and writers of this and other “zombie” genre films create these motion pictures to attract the attention of an audience who seeks to answer the mysterious question of, “what would life be like if human civilization was destroyed in a terrible catastrophe?” To this day, this genre has attracted the attention of large audiences. This genre allows us to see what it would be like if an uncontrollable event was to threaten human civilization.

9. The gruesome behavior observed within the survivors of this film show us how the theory of “survival of the fittest” takes control and leads to our own destruction. This text generally points out to us that there really isn’t a difference between “zombies” and humans because eventually we too fight for survival by any means necessary.

10. Scene Analysis
This scene is just a little over halfway through the film. Frank is Hannah’s father. Thus, he is protective, caring, and loving; when he encounters Jim and Selena he protects them from the zombies and offers them shelter at his place. In this scene, Frank begins to get impatient and loses his temper because they drove all the way too Southern Manchester to find some kind of refugee but no one seems to inhabit the place, it looks like everyone just left. He is roaming through the place in search of someone, but has no luck. When Selena calls attention to him, and tells him that they must leave, Frank snaps and replies, “we have to go… go fucken where!” He separates and keeps on looking.

12. He wanders off and sits down, when all of a sudden he is disturbed by the crowing of a raven. During this scene, “mise-en-scene” is being used to the producer’s advantage. The lighting is dark and shady making the audience think something not so good will happen. Also, the use of a raven adds to the foreshadowing that most definitely Frank is in trouble, since ravens symbolize tragedy and death. The ongoing crowing of the raven is also used to cause anxiety to the audience, as they wait to see what will become of Frank. Lastly, editing is used here because as he is looking up at the raven, things are out of focus causing a sense of confusion and reflecting off Frank’s emotions. Frank was feeling irritated, angry, and impatient all at once.

14. We have reached our pivotal moment, Frank is about to get infected
We have reached our pivotal moment, Frank is about to get infected! During this part of the scene the most important elements used are editing and the positioning of the camera. It is all in slow motion, as the drop of blood falls into Frank’s eye. Due to the fact that it was played in slow motion it intensifies the meaning of this scene, it becomes a key scene for all their lives. Obviously we can now assume that Frank will die or he will kill the rest of them.

16. The first one to be affected by this will be Hannah, his daughter, she will feel an immense pain without her dad; especially because he was all she had left. As far as Jim and Selena they will have no one to care for them anymore. The shooting of this scene is perfect, the camera is place above Frank, so when the drop of blood is falling we see it going into his eye directly. There is a small part when all you see is the red color of the drop of blood. And then boom, it goes into Frank’s eye! The significance of this scene is that it marks the change for Selena’s, Jim’s, and Hannah’s lives. The wise and caring leader they had is no longer with them. The scene portrays a key zombie convention, the turning of a loved one. It was hard for Jim to kill him, which is why he delayed; but then the soldiers shot him.

17. The last element used before Frank dies, is dialogue
The last element used before Frank dies, is dialogue. He has a short conversation with Hannah. He apologizes for his bad temper earlier and reassures Hannah that he loves her. Hannah facial expressions show confusion, she doesn’t understand why he is saying that? Adds to the foreshadowing since he is speaking his last words.

18. Identification of Zombie and Horror conventions:

19. Zombie Conventions
Abandoned Hospital Awakening- Movie starts with Jim waking up from a coma in the beginning of the movie
Suicide- Jims Parents commit suicide. They do not want to be infected by the virus, and believe that there is no cure. 
Zombie Epidemic- These type of zombies are humans who were infected by a disease. These zombies are not dead. 
Survival- The whole film is about surviving the epidemic "rage"
The characters do not go out and try to kill all of the zombies. 

21. Horror Conventions
Suspense- Used in the beginning scene, after the explanation of the outbreak happens, the scene ends and leaves the audience in suspense, trying to guess what will happen next. 
Death- death is usually evident in horror movies, whether it is from murder or suicide.  In this case, death is shown obviously by the zombies. 
Abandoned Area - The story takes place in London. The city is abandoned because it was evacuated when the outbreak happened. 
Weather- Gloomy weather throughout the movie.

22. How does this movie fit with the overall zombie genre?

23. General Conventions (Comparison with Night of the Living Dead)

24. Use of foreshadowing (In the tunnels)
Thunder/Lightning storm
Isolation (Great Britain)
Minimal communication with others
Supply scavenging
Family member becomes infected
Members of the group dying
Struggle with control (Who’s in charge)
Zombies ambush unexpectedly
Zombies chase the survivors
Cannibalism

26. Similarities (Comparison with the zombie genre.)
Character is up alone and confused at some point
Post apocalyptic setting
The main character deals the harsh realities of what must be done to survive
Intense chase scene
Search for other survivors
Battle with the Zombies

28. Differences (Comparison with the zombie genre)
Did not require a head shot to kill.
Originated from activist releasing infected apes.
One only becomes infected from blood contact.
Fast zombies!
Attack in the day and night. (I am Legend)
Transformation period. (10-20 Seconds)
Only effecting Britain.

29. What stands out the most…?

30. In 28 Days Later the zombies are NOT the living dead!

31. Why is that important?
The zombies, based off of Night of the Living Dead, die and then reanimate. This is a critical convention of the zombie.
In 28 Days Later, However, the zombies do not die. The infected go from a state of living to living with the “Rage” virus.