Research into Opening Sequences of Zombie Films - 28 Days Later

Before I begin my analysis, I would like to state that all though many think this is technically not a 'zombie' film, the zombie has many variants and has only been labelled as flesh eating undead through directors creations (such as Romero).


28 Days Later Opening Sequence
28 Days Later is a post apocalyptic film set in Britain. The story depicts the breakdown of the country following an accidental release of a highly dangerous and contagious virus. The film focuses on a small group of survivors as they struggle to cope with the devastation of the life that is non existant. It is a personal favourite of mine.

The opening sequence is an introduction of violence through the use of news clips, it becomes clear that this will not be a smooth ride nor a regular commercial movie and that violence or aggression will be a theme. This relates to my previous analysis of Dawn of the Dead, which uses similar if not the same approach to the opening sequences. Although unlike Dawn of the Dead, it does not make up the entirety of the opening sequence. Only the first 45 seconds.
Distorted audio plays throughout the news clips; what sounds like radio signals and static cutting in and out. This helps add a sense of confusion to the scene. We are aware of what we are viewing, but what is the reason behind it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dHzoUuA6G0

As the video footage ends, the distorted audio fades away, eachoing into the distance. The camera zooms out and pans to reveal a monkey wired up to a chair, and what seems to be forced to watch these videos. Some sort of experiment. The audio echoing and fading away helps add a sense of isolation to the current scene. It also assists in the progression from scenes of violence to calm very well.

I like the way the audio has been used in the transition between scenes, and I will try to find a suitable piece of audio to implement this into our own film. The TV series 'Lost' does something similar (although it moves on more abruptly than seen in the 28 Days Later opening sequence); when moving onto a different scene or location of significance a low pitched rumbling builds up and ends as the next scene appears. This helps build the tension between a current event and the scene that is yet to come. At times, leaving you on a temporary cliff hanger.

The sound in particular from Lost can be heard here:
http://www.losthatch.com/sounds/sound_effects/flashback.mp3

Moving on, the camera tracks to the left which results in a foreground object coming into the shot, and becoming in focus to reveal people breaking in on CCTV. I like how focusing is used here, it helps keep the event taking place fluid and clear. This is another technique I will look into implementing into my piece.

As the sequence progresses characters are introduced and a tense conversation takes place between the scientist and the trespassers. During which whenever the shot contains the trespassers, it will be shot through one of the glass containers for the animals (which slightly distorts they're faces), or an animal will be in the foreground yet out of focus. The scene is shot this way in particular when confusion and questions arise. In fact at the end of the conversation when the scientist explains what the animals are infected with, the mans face (who is doing the majority of the talking) becomes heavily distorted through the glass to again emphasise the confusion and unknown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGae5vkMekA&feature=related

Two shots are also used often during the conversation, at a medium shot length. The camera cuts back and forth between the two characters that are talking as they speak. The cutting back and forth helps the audience grasp who is talking and who it is directed at. The two shots are used successfully to implement the other characters not through diologue, but through facial expression; as the conversation unfolds, the more silent characters express confusion and even fear at times. This allows the scene to build up tension to an upcoming event and to yet again, emphasize the confusion and unknown.

As the trespassers spread out to release the caged animals, an estabilishing long shot has been used. This has been because there is a lot of movement and action on screen that needs to be shown. The angle is also in what seems to be in the corner of the ceiling, to which suggests this is what the CCTV cameras are seeing unfold. Estabilishing shots are used to estabilish an area or setting for the audience, feeding them a better understanding of the current scene.

The woman opens the cage and the chimpanzee that was being housed in it sprints towards her. The camera emphasizes the speed here by having a camera on a track progress forward towards the woman. Speed and panic are also emphasized through the use of various cuts leadind up to the this forward track. Three different angles of the chimp building up speed are used; one from behind as it runs into the distance, one where it passes the camera very quickly and finally a the camera horizontally tracking the chimp. All of this happens in a matter of seconds. The speed at which they are cut doesnt really allow the audience to prepare for the chimp's lunge and further more emphasizes the speed and aggressiveness behind it.

I liked the emphasis put on the speed and panic. The fast cuts, point of view and track use works very well here. I would love to try to implement this into our own film, and will try my best to.

Analysing this opening sequence has given me a lot of ideas in regards to camera angles that could be used, especially the ones that emphasize speed and aggression such as the running past the camera, or the point of view shot when he goes to lunge for the woman. Estabilishing shots are important and work well, so I will definately implement these into my camera work before any major action takes place. The point of view shot is also something would love to add into some part of our opening sequence, maybe when the zombies are chasing a survivor I could use it then? I would also like to have some form of close up to show the emotions on the characters face, and allow the audience to connect closer to the main character.

- Will