As a seasoned moviegoer who’s seen my fair share of post-apocalyptic films, I must say that the trailer for “28 Years Later” has piqued my interest more than any other recently released teaser. The combination of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, the hauntingly beautiful imagery, and the eerie recitation of Rudyard Kipling’s “Boots” poem have created a perfect storm of anticipation.
The trailer for 28 Years Later has hit, and horror movie fans have certainly taken notice, as the trailer has amassed 8.7 million views on its first day of release, becoming the #1 trending video. It’s not just the brand name of the 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later franchise causing such hype: this first cut of footage from the original creative team of director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland is a nerve-wracking and hauntingly ominous montage of dread, set in a dystopian version of the UK. The rage-zombie virus seems to be very much still active (in whatever form or fashion) as a man named Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) ventures out of a quarantine zone and witnesses how the world has been changed over nearly three decades living with the virus and infected.
The crucial audio element in the movie “28 Years Later” is a 1915 reading of Rudyard Kipling’s poem “Boots” by American actor Taylor Holmes, delivered in spoken form. Upon closer examination by fans, it appears that this poem wasn’t simply included for its eerie rhythmic pattern. Instead, the themes and context of the poem might offer hints about the plot and overarching themes of “28 Years Later”.
What Is 28 Years Later About?
Approaching thirty years since the rage virus broke free from its containment in a bioweapons lab, it continues to be strictly confined. However, some survivors have adapted to this quarantine, making their home on a small island linked to the mainland by a heavily guarded causeway. When a member of this group ventures off the island on a daring expedition into the heart of the contaminated mainland, they uncover hidden truths, marvels, and terrors that have not only altered the infected but also other survivors.
The Meaning & History of Rudyard Kipling’s “Boots” Poem
The poem “Boots” imagines the thoughts of a British Army infantryman stationed in South Africa during the Second Boer War between the British Empire and the Boer republics over influence in Southern Africa. Because the infantrymen have no clear campaign they are made to march across the region, and the speaker is slowly going mad from days of seeing nothing by his boots and the boots of nearby soldiers in line marching up and down without end. The marching continues through all the tolls of warfare, but the men cannot rest or stop and there’s no escape from the cycle of horror, as “there’s no discharge in the war!” The numbers counted off represent the stretches of miles the men have been made to march (“Four-eleven-seventeen-thirty-two-the day before…”) and Kipling snuck in the Easter egg of timing the lines to the cadence of actual infantry marches.
1915 audio recording of “Boots” by Taylor Holmes has been incorporated into real-life military training programs, specifically the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) program initially developed during WWII in America. The recording is said to be used to subject trainees to psychological distress as they learn how to evade capture, survive in wilderness conditions, and escape from hostile territories. Additionally, it’s been reported that the “Boots” recording is employed to simulate resistance tactics against interrogation and torture during captivity. Many who have experienced SERE training mention “Boots” as the haunting background music playing during scenarios of starvation, torment, and confinement. Taylor Holmes’ rendition of the poem has thus remained notorious in a hushed kind of infamy for many decades due to its association with such intense training experiences.
What Does “Boots” Poem Mean for 28 Years Later?
28 Years Afterward, we see a world that didn’t merely crumble during the Zombie Apocalypse (as depicted in the initial movie), but has since been corrupted and driven insane by surviving in this nightmarish landscape for an extended period. Signs of zombies evolving and human adversaries like a seemingly alliance-prone Ralph Fiennes, whose appearance suggests he might be collaborating with the Zombie faction, are becoming increasingly apparent.
Living a monotonous life during quarantine might ultimately prove to be a significant “peril” that could disintegrate what remains of humanity. The trailer for the movie “28 Years Later” hints at an enduring military presence, so the poem “Boots” may hold a new meaning for younger audiences. Furthermore, this poem could directly tie into the main storyline of Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character setting out from quarantine on a journey and his psychological struggle to persevere through the terrifying world he encounters beyond his sanctuary.
From the suggestions made by the poem, it’s unlikely that “28 Years Later” will conclude this trilogy with a cheerful ending. Farewell, Jim…
28 Years Later will be released in theaters on June 20, 2025.
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2024-12-12 00:11