That Horrific Poem in the ’28 Years Later’ Trailer Has a Deeper, Darker Meaning

When creating a trailer for a movie or show, nothing is more important to setting the tone of the movie than the presence of music, which is exactly what makes a new movie trailer After 28 years Incredibly unique. Instead of a piece of music from its own sheet music or from a licensed song, a simple poem is used instead, and the results make the teaser memorable. Not only does it perfectly capture the tone of the film and hint at the mental state of its new characters, but it has a chilling backstory. More than just a poem It is a terrible cry of despair and madnessreflecting the raw emotions of those on screen – Along with actual people who experienced the horror in real life.

What the hell is that poem in the trailer for “28 Years Later”?

It’s easy to tell that the audio in the new trailer is very old, but the poem itself dates back further than one might expect. The poem is titled “Shoes” and was initially written by a British author Rudyard KiplingPerhaps the most influential writing today Jungle book in 1894. Kipling was a correspondent during the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1902, in which British forces emerged victorious but suffered heavy casualties. The poem reflects the hellish experience From his life during wartime. Through manic repetition and tedious pacing, the film describes the sound of marching boots as worse than the flames of hell during a conflict that seems to never end, led by soldiers completely unaware of where they are marching towards.

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So, this is Cillian Murphy in the “28 Years Later” trailer, right?

He’s dead, Jim.

The poem in the trailer was recorded with its dramatic 1915 recitation by the actor Taylor HolmesJust as World War I began to expand into Europe. Perhaps in part because of this timing, the words became synonymous with the horrors of war, especially in that era. Until today, The poem still has great staying powerThe best evidence of this can be seen in the army itself. When recruiting new soldiers, the US Navy uses a training program they call “Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape” to boost their endurance. For years, there have been reports of this single recording being played repeatedly while soldiers were in custody. The poem was poignant enough that the original recording remains archived as a piece of historical recording by the Library of Congress, and can be listened to for free online for the very curious.

‘Shoes’ Has Chilling Implications on ’28 Years Later’

Knowing the backstory of this particular poem, its use in the teaser trailer is creepy in itself, Because the recording’s sheer age means viewers are literally listening to the wailing of the dead. However, there are also more symbolic implications for the film itself, especially those where details are being kept secret. We know little about the new main characters, for example, But the use of “shoes” gives a perfect hint as to their possible mental state Better than any narration or direct dialogue from the characters.

This makes especially sense when one remembers where the first two films ended, with Jim (Cillian Murphy) Having a simple feeling of hope and belief that the zombies will eventually starve to death. Just before the poem begins, the trailer emphasizes the long passage of time, both to honor his ancestors and to prove how wrong he is. The fact that the virus is still at large after 28 years would be enough to drive anyone crazy or desperate, and the perfect use of tone suggests that the film may be able to live up to the first two films, at least in their depiction of a darker life. Moments.

In a post-apocalyptic story like this one, the focus on a shattered outside world can make us forget that for those who knew life before it, the outbreak is still the single event that defines their lives. Every day is wartime However, the world is very ordinary compared to what they knew beforejust like the soldier in this poem. The trailer wonders what will happen to humanity, but it also seems to answer its own question by suggesting a life irretrievably lost, now populated by undead zombies who tend almost to envy the dead they fight. Perhaps the latest poster’s slogan sums it up best with a remarkably simple but elementary assessment: “Time heals nothing.”

After 28 years It is scheduled to be released in theaters on June 20, 2025.