Analysis of film clim 28 days later

This is my analysis of the short clip shows to us in our AS lecture, the clip is from a film named 28 days later directed by Daniel "Danny" Boyle.

As the clip begins we see the actor Cillian Murphy awaken, the camera stays on him like this for a short amount of time to bring emphasis to the fact that he is confused and/or unaware of where he is.

Danny Boyle may have had Cillian Murphy lie naked in the bed for an extended period of time to bring emphasis to the fact that he is vulnerable and exposed to the events that are about to unfold and that he has gone through some form of trauma that has left him in a position of vulnerability.

The use of the needles in his arms connected to the drip shows that he has been through trauma which has left him in need of said medicine.

The high camera angles during this early scene could also add to the effect that he is vulnerable and exposed.

At 1:57 the camera angle changes to a wide outside building shot showing the desolate surroundings which directly relates to the emotions the actor is portraying.

From 1:50 on wards the actor Cillian Murphy uses the word hello in place of is anyone there, which could symbolism his confusion with the surroundings and his expectations of other people normally being there.

When Cillian picks up the Pepsi can he opens and drinks as much as he can in one breath, this could play onto the fact that such a large amount of  time has passed that he is not only famished and parched but also unaware of the situation around him.

At 3:04 the camera changes to a very wide angle shot showing Cillian walking down a path but due to the nature of the shot he seems like a small white dot on the screen playing on the fact that he is alone in what seems to be a desolate version of a once very populated city.

When Cillian approaches the notice board covered with images of loved ones and missing people it plays onto the fact that nobody is here and is anyone even looking for them anymore?

Conclusion; The combined effects of the camera angles, the music that slowly ramps up in line Cillian's confusion and the effects of the wide shots showing extremely desolate sections of a notably populated city (London) creates a very eerie effect for the audience.


Billy Rawlins - AS Film Studies