Given how the end of28 Weeks Laterconcluded in 2007, it was understandably assumed that28 Years Laterwould unfold in a world completely decimated by the Rage Virus. Turns out, we were wrong. The virus did in fact make its way to France as depicted in director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s sequel, but as Danny Boyle explains in his new film’s preamble,the virus was successfully pushed back across the English Channel and eradicated from Europe. What followed was a complete and unconditional quarantine of the British Isles as those left behind were meant to fend for themselves.
In the wake of such a morally reprehensible decision, the Rage Virus was able to mutate in unexpected ways while the rest of the world moved on completely unaffected, and seemingly unaware, of what was unfolding in the United Kingdom and Ireland. So, while people like Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Spike (Alfie Williams) fight to survive in their apocalyptic reality, the rest of the world remains free fromthe terrifying zombie-like creatures. In fact, the Swedish NATO soldier Erik Sundqvist (Edvin Ryding) even had a smartphone when he washed ashore.
In essence, the world moved on as the British Isles fell into utter chaos, which ultimately raises a host of questions, like why and how it continued in such a manner for 28 years. Also, would the rest of the world really be okay with abandoning the people of Britain and Ireland? Plus, if the Rage Virus was such a threat, why not just bomb the entire place like they did in28 Weeks Later? Given how long people like Jamie have managed to survive, there are some obvious, albeit horrifying, answers to all these questions.
Is the Rest of the World Really Okay with Abandoning the British Isles?
28 Years Later
With the number of people still alive across the British Isles, it’s hard to believe the rest of the world would be okay with abandoning them. Sure, there would be plenty of those throughout the world who wouldn’t care. There are, of course,terrible people everywhere. Nevertheless, it seems strange to imagine the entire planet would agree to leave behind so many survivors. Relatively speaking, it would be easy to rescue people like Jamie and Spike. The world is riddled with a number of military resources, so why not save the people that can be saved? Simply,the world is being lied to.
With nearly three decades having passed since the initial outbreak,there’s now an entire generation of people who do not remember how the world responded to the Rage Virus. As such, they’ve likely accepted the reality they’ve been presented, which is understandable. After all, there’s a no-fly zone over the contaminated area, and the virus hasn’t taken hold anywhere else. So, why would any population have reason to doubt what they’ve been told? Clearly, they’re actively being lied to.
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28 Years Laterdoesn’t necessarily touch on what the rest of the world is being told about the Rage Virus and its current aftermath. However, it appears the public doesn’t know the truth, which would explain their “compliance” with the horrific quarantine. In fact,according to a promotional site for the movie,Rageleaks.net(password: memento mori), information is actively being hidden from the rest of the world.
Essentially a file dump thanks to an underground whistleblower,Rageleaks offers a cache of documents, pictures, and audio files that detail some sort of cover-up. While the pieces scattered throughout the site fall shortof a fully formed conspiracy, it’s clear the reasons behind such secrecy are nothing short of egregious. Furthermore, it explains why the governments of the world have chosen to keep the British Isles intact instead of simply firebombing the place and riding the world of the Rage Virus for good.
Why Hasn’t the World Firebombed the British Isles?
With the severity of such a dangerous virus still looming, firebombing the British Isles would be a viable solution. After all, it was the last resort in28 Weeks Later, and they executed such a plan without a second thought. However,such a bomb would destroy everything,including any potential research. Unfortunately, it would seem the “benefits” of possible scientific research outweigh the lives of survivors like Jamie and Spike.
The United Kingdom and Ireland haven’t been firebombed simply so the infected and the survivors can all be studied. What’s a few million lives when compared to the benefits of groundbreaking and unprecedented research? In all likelihood, the world believes the British Isles have become a total wasteland with no survivors. Theeffects of the Rage Virusare no secret, and after it was ultimately pushed back out of Europe after ravaging France for a while, it’s likely the public would believe just about anything they were told in regard to its decimation throughout Britain.
So, while the British Isles have been left to decay amidst the horrors of an evolving Rage Virus, the rest of the world has moved on. The truth of it all has clearly remained a secret, but unfortunately, those in the public are none the wiser.28 Years Lateris currently playing in theaters.
