28 DAYS LATER… (2003) ***1/2

Reviewed 6/27/03

Basic DAWN OF THE DEAD-type zombie movie (though the zombies are really rabid humans rather than undead) with creepy execution and efficient storytelling.  Animal activists who free infected chimpanzees inadvertently spread the “Rage” virus, which wipes out most of the United Kingdom in 4 weeks time.   A few survivors like puzzled coma-emerged Jim (Cillian Murphy, already looking like a corpse), unsentimental machete wielding badass who learns to love again Selena (Naomie Harris), virginal innocent Hannah (Megan Burns), and her buoyant father Frank (Brendan Gleeson, terrific as usual) seek out a military brigade who turns out to be as menacing as the zombies.  It doesn’t transcend the genre in any real way, but it is a nice return to form for director Danny Boyle after the mistake that was THE BEACH.