28 Years Later Trailer Explained: Rudyard Kipling’s Boots, Cillian Murphy’s Zombie body, and more
Published on December 11, 2024
28 Years Later trailer is here, and fans are loving it. But many are certainly confused about multiple things that are shown in the trailer, like the Rudyard Kipling Boots poem that runs in the background as harrowing visuals grace the screen, Cillian Murphy appearing as a mummified zombie, and more. In this article, we will dissect it all and more.
Rudyard Kipling Boots and its Significance in the 28 Years Later Trailer
In the 28 Years Later trailer, it's shown that it has been 10,228 days since the RAGE Virus infection began. In the background of the trailer, we hear a recitation of Rudyard Kipling's Boots by American actor Taylor Holmes. So, what does it mean in the context of the film? Boots was first published in Rudyard Kipling's The Five Nations collection and it reflects the thoughts of a British Army infantryman who was forced to march in South Africa during the 1899 Second Boer War.
Here's the complete poem:
We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over Africa—Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin' over Africa --(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up and down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Seven—six—eleven—five—nine-an'-twenty mile to-day—Four—eleven—seventeen—thirty-two the day before --
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up and down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Don't—don't—don't—don't—look at what's in front of you.
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again);
Men—men—men—men—men go mad with watchin' em,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
Count—count—count—count—the bullets in the bandoliers.
If—your—eyes—drop—they will get atop o' you!
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up and down again) --
There's no discharge in the war!
We—can—stick—out—'unger, thirst, an' weariness,
But—not—not—not—not the chronic sight of 'em—Boot—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
'Taint—so—bad—by—day because o' company,
But night—brings—long—strings—o' forty thousand million
Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again.
There's no discharge in the war!
I—'ave—marched—six—weeks in 'Ell an' certify
It—is—not—fire—devils, dark, or anything,
But boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
Try—try—try—try—to think o' something different—Oh—my—God—keep—me from goin' lunatic!
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Multiple lines like “Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down” and “foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over,” among others suggest the sheer monotony faced by the marching soldiers. Similarly, the trailer highlights the monotony of trying to survive in a world that has reverted back to its primitive roots.
We see that the community of living and uninfected survivors have divided their main professions as being that of farmers, seamstresses and such. So, their roles in the community are specified and there seems to be no room for recreation in a world where survival is the first and foremost priority.
Rudyard Kipling’s Boots poem also highlights the despair that the soldiers felt and here too, we can feel the despair of the people who are stuck in this seemingly endless cycle of trying to escape from the infected and survive. Even after almost three decades after the outbreak of the RAGE virus, humanity has not found a cure.
It’s also interesting that the recitation of the poem has been used in various military programs to train troops to build mental fortitude if they get captured and tortured by enemies. In the trailer of 28 Years Later, we do see the military getting involved and there’s a watchtower from where the survivors keep a watch for incoming danger. As such, the poem could have deeper connections and might even be used in the film itself.
Cillian Murphy is now Zombie Jim?
In the 28 Years Later movie trailer, we see a shot of Cillian Murphy’s character, Jim’s, zombie corpse in a field. This has sparked a lot of debates online about the capacity in which the actor might appear in the film. Some think that Jim is really dead, and Aaron Taylor Johnson’s Jamie will take over as the leading character in this film.
However, the main consensus seems to be that the shot is a dream/ nightmare sequence that a character, perhaps even Jim himself, is experiencing. As such, it is probably put in the trailer to lead fans astray. However, this is not the only instance where Jim is referenced in the trailer.
On a wall, there's graffiti saying, “Behold Jimmy he is coming with the clouds.” Also, there’s the letters “JIMMY” carved on the back of a person hung upside down. Could the person be Jim? That will certainly be an interesting way to bring Jim back.
What Is Jodie Comer’s Character’s role in 28 Years Later?
Jodie Comer’s character is a mother who is trying to survive with her baby in a world that has been ravaged by the infected. In the few shots we see of her in the trailer, she is shown as a protective figure who seems to be resilient and hell-bent on saving her baby. As such, her character could be the emotional anchor of the movie. Also, the presence of her child could hint at hope for the future.
28 Years Later will be released in theatres on Friday, June 20, 2025.
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