'28 Weeks Later' Opening Scene Analysis

'28 Weeks Later' Opening Scene

The '28 Weeks Later' opening follows many of the codes and conventions that other films of the post-apocalyptic genre do, with added elements of horror to establish that it is also a part of the horror genre. The '28 Weeks Later' opening is a great and well known opening that uses many elements of the post-apocalyptic genre.

Purpose and Conventions

The purpose of the opening is to keep the audience in suspense. As with most films, a few enigmas are created, such as wondering what happened to a woman's boyfriend and why everyone is so scared to go outside, but the suspense is less common. This is due to the cross of horror and post-apocalypse being used. The ominous non-diegetic with the sudden knocking on the door and the look of fear on the characters' faces create a suspenseful atmosphere; a convention of both horror and post-apocalypse films.

Another convention of horror and post-apocalypse films used in this opening is the use of lighting. The dark lighting with only a mere few candles to light the room creates the intended dark atmosphere for the rest of the film. The lighting is very important in a post-apocalyptic film to set the atmosphere correctly. The candles are around the characters sitting at the table in the opening, so the candles light up the area around them but the rest of the room is dark, making them seem isolated and within a light space in a darker world. Them being confined in a single room is also a convention of the post-apocalyptic genre.

Shots and Angles

The opening uses many good, conventional shots to show the audience that it is a post-apocalyptic horror. My favourite shot in the opening is the one depicted above, of the characters sitting around the table. The lighting around them makes them seem isolated from everything else. Before this shot, there are many shots showing them acting like nothing has happened, showing that they've grown used to being alone, but this shot is just after they heard knocking on the door. They're shocked by the knocking and the darkness around them shows that they're used to being alone; them being the light and the rest of the world being the dark.

There's a total of 81 shots in this opening, showing that this genre can be rather fast paced. I think the genre being a mixture of both horror and post-apocalypse cause it to be paced rather fast, but the visual side of the post-apocalypse genre is very important, as it shows what the world has become, and so many shots are usually needed in openings. Many of the shots are of the characters' faces and their reactions to what happens around them. these shots show light being only on their faces, the rest of the room being dark.

Mise-En-Scene

As said before, the setting and lighting are important to a film of this genre. The opening is set entirely in a single, confined room, and the characters are afraid of everything outside of the room. The confined, dark room is a convention of the post-apocalyptic genre and is needed in this scene to add the isolation and fear needed in the opening. The lighting is just as important. The room needs to be dark to add to the isolation and dark atmosphere that's necessary in this opening.

The characters are portrayed as being alone and afraid; hardened by what has previously happened to them. They wear dirty clothes and are generally unclean. This indicates that they've been isolated from civilisation and are lacking in health. The bowl full of food that they're all passing around at dinner looks unappetising and gets its own shot. The bowl seems to be important, with the content being disgusting. It further shows that the characters are living off of anything they can find.

Editing

The editing is well put together for a fast paced film such as this. The scenes fit perfectly together with the different transitions. No special effects are used, but that isn't needed in this opening. Shot/reverse shot is used often when the characters within the shots are conversing. The shot switched between two characters as they are talking to each other. 180 shot is also used frequently while they are conversing. The entire scene is well put together through editing.

The very end of the clip shows a woman looking outside and a creature appears in front of her. an eyeline shot is used here to show how close they are and the danger of the scene. The editing fits the post-apocalypse genre well with the fast paced scenes and transitions. The room is also made to be darker to add to the dark atmosphere and theme of isolation. The titles don't appear until after the clip above ends, so I cannot look into that.

Sound

Both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are crucial in the '28 Days Later' opening. There are many diegetic sounds used, such as the newspaper at the beginning and people moving around, that are important as they are the only things breaking the silence, as nobody is talking throughout half of the scene. But the most important diegetic sound, in my opinion, is the knocking on the door halfway through. Everything is relatively calm in the room and the only sounds being made are from the already established characters, then the loud knocking changes that. The characters all become silent and look at the door. The knocking is a very important aspect to this opening.

The non-diegetic sound is just as important. There is no non-diegetic sound until the tense music at the knocking on the door. The music used creates the suspense needed in the tense situation. As the scene goes on, the music increases in volume to strike fear and excitement in the audience watching. Before and after this scene, the lack of non-diegetic sound creates a calm and safe atmosphere, but the music changes the atmosphere and shows imminent danger. This is more of a horror convention than a post-apocalypse convention, though.

Narrative

Unlike in previous opening scenes I have looked at, a narrative is established in this one. We're introduced to several plot points straight away, and are left curious as to what's going on. We find out that a woman's boyfriend is missing and presumed dead through a discussion early on, but know little more than that. From this discussion, we also learn that most people outside are dead and that they're some of the few survivors of, what's made out to be, the apocalypse. Isolation seems to be a major factor in the opening, with the introduced characters seemingly alone.

Another important factor is the boy, who is introduced halfway through. The knocking on the door scares the characters, showing further that they're alone because they're surprised at having visitors. Opening the door, they find a boy, who explains his story and who he is to them while eating. The story explains some points to the audience, such as what's going on outside of the room that the opening is set in. It is suggested that the boy has been alone for quite a while too, being very hungry and wearing dirty clothes.