28 Days Later: The Opening Scene’s Unanswered Questions That Haunt Fans!

by

In the movie “28 Days Later,” and its subsequent sequels, there remain numerous questions about the Rage Virus that have yet to be answered, despite the initial scene attempting to provide an origin story for it. The film, released in 2002, significantly rejuvenated the zombie-horror genre with Cillian Murphy’s character, Jim, waking up in a post-apocalyptic London overrun by humans infected with a fast-spreading virus causing uncontrollable rage and aggression. However, as shown in the sequels to “28 Days Later,” the initial 28 weeks of peace were never destined to last.

In the original “28 Days Later,” directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, they opted to disclose the source of the Rage Virus. Over time, many zombie-themed films and series have neglected an origin story, and “28 Days Later” could have adopted this approach by immediately introducing us to Jim in his hospital bed. However, while the 2002 film’s opening scene gave a backstory on the Rage Virus, there are still many unresolved questions about its origins that remain today.

28 Days Later’s Opening Scene Explains the Rage Virus’ Origins

In the initial sequence of “28 Days Later“, action unfolds prior to the unleashing of the Rage Virus. This occurs when a band of animal rights advocates forcefully enter a research facility in Cambridge, where tests are underway on highly-aggressive chimpanzees. They encounter a frightened scientist who attempts to alert them that these chimps have already contracted the Rage Virus. Ignoring his warnings, they set the chimps free. However, their actions trigger an attack by the chimps, which sets off the virus’s spread across the globe and ultimately leads to the downfall of civilization.

During a chat with GQ in April, writer Alex Garland shared his perspective on the concept of zombies not stemming from anything supernatural. Instead, he found it uninteresting and opted for a preposterous theory about viruses and chimpanzees exposed to violent media. As Garland didn’t delve deeply into the specifics of the Rage Virus, there are still several perplexing aspects regarding the infection.

Alex Garland told GQ in April that he didn’t believe zombies were supernatural. Instead, he came up with a silly idea about viruses and chimps watching violent images to explain them. This means there are still many confusing parts about the virus in his story.

I Still Have Major Questions About the Rage Virus in 28 Days Later & Its Sequels

28 Days Later, released over two decades ago, leaves many unanswered questions regarding the Rage Virus. Although the film suggests that the virus was injected into chimps as a means to inhibit it while scientists worked on a cure, the true origin of the virus remains unexplored. It’s still undetermined whether the virus was synthesized by scientists or if it emerged naturally within the chimps due to exposure to aggressive content.

There’s also the point about understanding the objective behind the scientists’ work. The idea of a cure for anger might seem ludicrous and unnecessary. After all, anger is a fundamental human emotion, so attempting to eradicate it from humanity seems senseless. Moreover, such experiments without necessity could lead to unwanted complications. The origins of the Rage Virus remain unexplained in both 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later, but now Alex Garland and Danny Boyle have the opportunity to delve into this backstory.

28 Years Later Has the Perfect Opportunity to Finally Answer These Mysteries

18 years after the release of “28 Weeks Later” in 2007, we’re heading back to a world plagued by the Rage Virus in the upcoming film titled “28 Years Later“. This movie is set to hit theaters on Friday, June 20. In “28 Years Later“, a father and son living on an isolated island with strong defenses embark on a secretive expedition to the mainland. With almost three decades having passed, it’s plausible that new information about the Rage Virus’ origin has surfaced. As such, the 2025 sequel is poised to provide answers to some long-standing questions about this virus.

28 Years Later serves as the initial installment of an upcoming trilogy, implying that we may unravel several significant enigmas. As Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Spike (Alfie Williams), and Isla (Jodie Comer) traverse this world, they could encounter various characters. Dr. Ian Kelson, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, might be a scientist linked to the initial Rage Virus from 2002. This setup offers a chance for these questions to be addressed, though it’s also plausible that Boyle and Garland will opt to maintain the true origin of the virus as a mystery.

Read More

2025-06-18 17:40