So
for my dystopia blog I chose the movie "28 Weeks Later". This movie is the
sequel to "28 Days Later". In the
original movie, “28 Days Later”, a group of ignorant scientists start the spread
of the rage virus from laboratory test monkeys, the virus spreads across Great
Brittain leaving zombie like creatures roaming the streets with a thirst for
blood and wanton violence. “28 Weeks Later” picks up in the post-apocalyptic time period after those infected with the “rage
virus” infected have died off. The U.S. army has secured a small area of London for the 15,000 survivors to
repopulate and start again. However, not everything goes as planned. They do not have a protocol for minors in their secure zone at this time. A lack of supervision provides the children an opportunity to embark on an adventure to their old home. In their home they
find their mother who is still alive and “partially” infected. While she does contract the virus, she remains free of the symptoms associated with the disease. Upon her arrival to the
secured area, the mother undergos a process of decontamination. She is quarantined to protect the other survivors since she is a carrier of the virus and can infect others. When her husband learns of his wife's arrival to the facility he is surprised because he thought she had been killed. His reaction is impulsive and in a lapse of judgement, he kisses his wife. Unfortunately, this exchange causes him to become infected and then turns on his own wife. This encounter initiates the spread of infection to the survivors. The objective is to save the two children whose blood may contain
the key to an antidote. I feel as though dystopia is an interesting concept among audiences who perceive a post-apocalyptic world as both frightening
and possible. Everyday we face risk of infection from diseases that are life threatening and have no cure. There are constant threats of warfare involving nuclear weapons from foreign nations that have the potential to kill an entire population of people. A virus that spreads at such a rapid rate and consumes the vast majority of the population is not necessarily a foreign concept. It provides a glimpse into a world without the structure of rules and laws. These dystopian movies and stories continue
to hold popularity because compared to the world we live in, such chaos would present a survival of the fittest type scenario. As they say history repeats itself. So, whether it be a zombie-like apocalypse or a civil revolution, by rendering our
government non-existent, we will have to adapt to the lack of structure and
laws.
