If they're not zombies, but just humans with a rage virus, why don't they all attack eachother?

If they're not zombies, but just humans with a rage virus, why don't they all attack eachother?

Attached: p31044_v_v8_ab.jpg (960x1440, 153K)

Virology fucked up my zombie movie appreciation

humans undying need for self-preservation

They might have the rage, but they are gentlemen first and foremost.

I wrote an essay on this movie if anybody cares to read it

Purpose of a virus is to spread to non viral hosts.

Sure user, what’s it about?

was an essay for a basic film unit at uni, don't think it's very good, how the film creates realism using the elements of film.


One way in which realism is created in the film is through the cinematography, specifically the choice of film and camera. Many scenes (such as those in London) are filmed using digital cameras, specifically the Canon XL1, (Bankston, 2003) notes that in addition to resolving logistical issues, (there was often little time to film on location) the use of handheld digital cameras and the dated DV format had certain desirable effects on the film and helped to create realism. For example, the scene from 10:22-13:13 where Jim wanders through abandoned London landmarks like Oxford Street, St Paul’s Cathedral and Horse Guards Parade. The image quality is extremely lackluster compared to something filmed on academy 35mm, an hour of DV filming is only 13GB of data. In this scene and others throughout the film the film quality is very blurry and indistinct, but this aids the film in creating realism. The harsh, gritty visuals reinforce the subject matter of the film, the world of 28 Days Later is one which even more so for Jim is confusing, and rough so in this way the use of DV meshes very well with the realistic setting (Bankston, 2003) p2.


part 1

If zombies don't eat actual food that a human body can digest, and if they get some disease or the bleed out or the normal human bodily function are otherwise damaged or impaired, why don't they suffer the effects the same as any normal human would? We are a series of chemical reactions. Does zombification cause the laws of physics to cease being relevant?

Another way in which the films cinematography creates realism is through the use of shaky-cam. In the scene above and throughout the film shaky-cam is used, another advantage of handheld cameras. One scene where the use of shaky-cam stands out is 28:33 to 29:00 when 2 people infected by the rage virus attack Jim, Selena and Mark. The effect of the Shaky-Cam is twofold. Firstly, it creates realism by mimicking the head movement of a person combined with the POV of Jim when he is fighting the infected man on top of him, this helps to immerse the viewer and make the film feel more “real”. (Nelmes & Nichols, 2012) argue that shaky-cam can both aid immersion and create a sense of energy and dynamism, the frantic shaking of the camera, as well as many extreme closeups and short shot lengths creates a confusing but exciting scene, we share the confusion of Jim who has just been attacked out of nowhere and jolted out of his nostalgia. In this way the film “invites us to identify with an individual hero” (Branston & Stafford, 2010) p.448.
part 2

Another cinematographic technique that helps to create realism is the Dutch angle, this shot is used consecutively between 12:15-12:22 and is also used at 28:30-28.31. In the first example it helps to create and heighten tension, disorientation and paranoia, especially when the second shot is coming from an extremely high crane shot, it feels like someone is watching Jim from a nearby building, and the non-diegetic sound that has been building for the past minutes is reaching a crescendo, Jim is clearly completely lost confused and scared and so is the audience (a car alarm provided a recent scare for both the audience and Jim) , presumably something major is going to happen after this long build up. The second example is just a split second before the infected burst through the windows and attack, the point of view of the infected and the significant angle gives us both a brief moment of fear and an insight into the rage fueled and psychotic mind of the infected, just before the infected burst through the windows Jim hears something and turns, so the use of the Dutch angle here is not only creating a feeling of realism and verisimilitude but also putting the audience within the world of the film, like the shaky-cam does.

28 Days later uses cinematography, editing and mis-en-scene to create a realistic post-apocalyptic feel. After the apocalypse there is no electricity, which creates a problem for filmmakers in night scenes, traditional techniques of lighting would obviously be electrical or otherwise unnatural, breaking the illusion of reality... (cont)


part 3

.. To get around this, the filmmakers used day-for-night techniques, using HMI lighting through silks to imitate moonlight, underexposure and darkening in post-production, (Bankston, 2003) both to avoid a key problem of DV (excessively large depth of field leaving to a flat looking image) and to create the blurry darkness that would be ever present in a post-apocalyptic Britain with no electricity. One example of this is the scene from 27:00 to 29:25. The film in general is very darkly lit, which adds to the atmosphere and feels much more real than a brightly lit set and characters would look.


The scene from 8:46 to 9:42 is a good example of how 28 days later creates the realist aesthetic, in this sequence where Jim wanders across Westminster bridge there are several choices and techniques related to mise-en-scene and cinematography that create realism. Firstly, this scene was shot on location in natural lighting (the more authentic and less managed the better), secondly there is extreme deep focus combined with long takes (which prevents directorial manipulation of the shot). (Hayward., 2013) p313. And the numerous metal Big Ben souvenirs that Jim kicks away strengthen the effect of the setting by making the environment more believable (Bell, 2001).p.94 What better way to create realism in a film and series of shots set in London early in the morning than to film in London, early in the morning. Another choice worth noting is the casting of unknown actors in the film, for example Cilian Murphy who plays Jim and Naomie Harris who plays Selena were not very known at all, this is a typical choice when creating films in the realist aesthetic.

They're infected with a virus. The purpose of the virus is to spread. Killing each other would be counter-productive and not spread the virus. It's simple as that.

Samefag, pls.

r-rude

Thanks for posting user!

sorry I was out of line

The virus just makes them angry. It doesn't give them some supernatural ability to tell who is infected with the virus.

is it really that suprising that someone might want to read it?

Another example of how the film creates realism is the scene from 5:55 to 7:03 when Jim wakes up in hospital. The unapologetic male nudity helps to establish realism, male nudity that isn’t covered up by camera tricks is rare by showing this so early in the film the film is saying “this is real, not manufactured”. The scene also makes good use of sound, Jim knocks over hospital equipment and rips off bandages and chest pads which make visceral diegetic sound, the use of real equipment over sound inserted in post-production is a difference that can be heard and feels more real

Another scene which demonstrates how sound and mise-en-scene play an important role in creating realism is the scene from 2:12 to 5:26, the diegetic sound of the apes smashing on the glass, howling, grunting and so on is very effective in making the scene seem “real”, the audience can definitely believe that this is a real research laboratory with real apes, it also builds tension. The scene from the 0:30 to 1:37 very cleverly uses real life footage of riots and other violent events (easily noticed is footage of riots in Northern Ireland). The scientists in the film are using real footage from the real world, if the footage was created by the filmmakers and involved people firing laser guns or a fictitious 4th Sino-Japanese war it would break the illusion of reality for the audience.

part 4

Okay, deliver the goods.

Cringe

Jesus Christ stop

In terms of editing the film uses continuity editing which guides the audience through the film, it doesn’t try to trick the audience and only cuts are used, the editing is minimalist as suits a film aiming to create realism. The acting in the film is also very subdued and realistic, there are no theatrics or unnecessary heroic performances from the actors, in a film that wasn’t attempting to create this type of realism Cilian Murphy might have broken down ,screamed to the heavens and torn his hair in anguish at finding his dead parents, but instead he just cries quietly, no doubt he expected to find his parents dead, and would a character in his situation really react that way?

last part, also I don't think I mentioned it in the essay but they also used a really slow or fast shutter speed in the scenes where the zombies are running which makes them look extra fast, not sure how exactly

It doesnt have to be supernatural. Maybe it's based on smell, if someone is sick or near death-- maybe it can detect it for example. It doesnt seem far fetched to me.

is it really that suprising that someone might want to read my entry level college essay about a zombie flick from some 19 year old virgin with zero life experience and only the faintest grasp of the English language?

Yes.