If there’s one thing to strike fear into even the most seasoned of horror fans, it’s the 28… franchise. The ultimate zombie-jumpscare, 2002’s 28 Days Later, directed by Danny Boyle, saw Britain devastated by the mysterious Rage Virus, which transformed humans into crazed cannibal zombies called the Infected.
Now, nearly two decades after 2007’s second instalment, 28 Weeks Later, the saga continues with 28 Years Later, which was released last week. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and Jodie Comer, the movie depicts a world of bloodthirsty (and nude) Infected. But what does it take to become part of horror’s most terrifying franchise?
Alpha Zombie
Actor Chi Lewis-Parry stars as one of the new breed of zombies – ‘The Alpha of the Alphas, the mammoth Samson’ – and he tells us, ‘I’m a huge horror enthusiast. To now be part of what is arguably the biggest horror franchise of our time is a bit like being a kid let loose in Hamleys – it’s a dream come true.’
But the 6ft 8in MMA fighter, actor and bodyguard – who has also starred in Gladiator II and Kraven: The Hunter – sacrificed a lot for the role. While it took Bill Skarsgård six hours a day to become Pennywise the Clown in 2017’s It, and Robert Englund put up with a four-hour transformation to become A Nightmare On Elm Street’s iconic Freddie Krueger, Chi outdid both those actors.
‘Most people would run a mile at the thought of spending eight hours in a make-up chair, but not this puppy,’ he laughs. ‘Given the nature of my character, the process was no small feat. It was long – and at times hilariously invasive. There was a lot of poking, and far too much flicking for my liking – I think they enjoyed that part a little too much! But, honestly, I absolutely revelled in it. The time it took to do the make-up was the equivalent of a flight to New York – and then the work day would begin.’
So, when ‘Action’ is yelled and the camera turns on, what does it take to bring someone's worst nightmare to life? With the intensity on set and energy at an all-time high, it's hardly surprising that some moments felt real.
‘There’s actually a very specific scene in the film that I completely forgot we’d even shot,’ Chi recalls 'It wasn't until I saw it in the edit that it all came flooding back. At the time, it felt so raw - and so completely against my own nature - that I must have blocked it out. Seeing the realism of it in the finished film explained why. It was a little too real for my pour soul.'
Redefining Fear
While the movie is just under two hours of pure terror, Chi spent months on set for his scenes - and it was far from a regular nine-to-five. 'The most challenging days were the early starts and the late finishes,' Chi shares. 'But I love this work. As hard as certain moments can be, you can't step into the position and start complaining. I have the privilege of navigating the extraordinary world of cinema, surrounded by some of the most brilliant creative minds. It's all smiles for me.'
Viewers of 28 Years Later won't be smiling, though. After all, there's a reason the film is a strong contender as the most terrifying movie of the decade.
'Nightmares are born from films like this,' Chi says. 'It redefines the horror genre by introducing a new kind of terror - one that will have audiences digging their nails into their cinema seats.'
28 Years Later is in cinemas now