Danny Boyle, director of the zombie sequel '28 Years Later,' employed unconventional methods, utilizing iPhones, drones, and even attaching cameras to goats (although this footage was mostly unused). This approach contrasted sharply with the typical expensive camera setups used in Hollywood blockbusters. The director's choice was driven by a desire for a lo-fi aesthetic, similar to his 2002 film '28 Days Later'.
The movie, written by Alex Garland, centers on 12-year-old Spike, who ventures outside his isolated island home with his father, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), encountering infected individuals with the Rage Virus. Filming took place in Northumberland, UK, with the mobile shooting equipment facilitating navigation of the diverse landscape.
The use of iPhones and drones was justified by Boyle's observation that modern smartphones deliver cinematic-quality footage (4K, 60fps), significantly reducing costs. The use of this technology allowed for efficient and affordable filming, contributing to the film's overall success.
One noteworthy scene involved attaching a camera to a 'Slow-Low,' a slow-moving, ground-crawling infected creature, inspired by prior attempts using a goat. This shot made the final cut and is featured in the trailer.
Many Hollywood directors use expensive cameras to film their blockbusters. Danny Boyle's approach to filming his zombie sequel "28 Years Later" was a bit more… experimental.
"We did strap a camera to some animals a couple of times — yeah, a goat," Boyle told Business Insider.
The director, whose 2002 horror classic "28 Days Later" was shot on digital cameras for a deliberately lo-fi look, was keen to take a similarly unconventional approach with his follow-up film two decades later.
The movie, written by Alex Garland, follows 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams) as he leaves his secluded island home for the first time with his father, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and comes face-to-face with hordes of people infected with the Rage Virus.
To capture their terrifying encounters with zombies, Boyle told BI he relied on iPhones, drones, and yes, those goats. While Boyle said the goat shot didn't make it into the final cut, the tactic prompted him to try strapping a camera to a new variant of the infected, called the "Slow-Low," which crawls on the ground eating bugs.
"Having done it with the goats, you then think, 'Oh!'" Boyle said. That Slow-Low shot made it into the film — and into the trailer, too.
For the film's pulse-pounding chase scenes, Boyle relied on iPhones and drones instead of heavy high-tech equipment.
"Any smartphone now can record at 4K, indeed up to 60 frames per second, which is more than enough resolution you need for cinema exhibition," he said.
Keeping the crew light on their feet also helped them more easily navigate the wild landscape of Northumberland, the UK region used as a filming location for "28 Years Later."
Plus, there's an added bonus: shooting on iPhones makes things "way, way cheaper."
"28 Years Later" is in theaters June 20.
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