Textual Analysis (Narrative) - Dead Set, The Plague of Zombies, 28 Weeks Later

The opening to Dead set is a Linear opening. The threat is restricted. We see hints and glimpses that a threat is present but not a direct threat. The first 5 minutes relate to the rest of the film because the Big Brother House setting is continued throughout the film and the actors are the characters throughout. This affects the audience because it grabs their attention because they want to know what the threat is and the story is affected by clues being shown that links to later events and reveals the weaknesses of the house and set. The film titles are purely the Big Brother titles.

The opening to The Plague of Zombies is a Non-Linear opening. The threat is both omniscient and restricted as you see a threat but it doesn't make sense. The first 5 minutes relate to the rest of the film because it seems to be showing a ritual for turning people into zombies. This affects the audience as it makes you quite uncomfortable and it is confusing so the audience have to really think about it. The story is affected as it provides hints for the plot later in the film. The titles are simple. It is plain font over a still shot of a voodoo doll and changes to show the title, director etc.

The opening to 28 Weeks Later is a Linear opening. The threat is omniscient because they are in a house which is boarded up to attempt to protect themselves from the threat but the threat is quickly revealed. The first 5 minutes relate to the rest of the film because it is obvious that when they are bitten they turn into zombies showing how the virus was spread in the beginning and in the rest of the film. It affects the audience as it creates suspense as we don't know who will survive the opening and it makes you want to know what happens next. The story is affected as it shows that it is a never ending cycle because the boys parents died and the girls boyfriend died which shows that everybody else will die at some point.

Compared to 28 Weeks Later, the other films were very slow to start and could be considered to be a bit boring compared to the fast paced opening created in 28 Weeks Later.