Welcome to their nightmare

The title: “28 Days Later”

The tagline: “The nightmare begins here. The days are numbered.”

Where it’s charting: Currently No. 2 at the U.K. box office; opened at No. 1.

The story line: Animal activists accidentally unleash a highly contagious virus onto an unsuspecting British populace during a raid on a primate research lab. The virus, code-named “Rage,” spreads across England, turning people into angry, murderous (but well-dressed) zombies known as “The Infected.” Twenty-eight days later, a small group of survivors forges its way through zombie-infested territory to a distant army stronghold, all the while eyeing each other for signs of infection.

What the reviews are saying: The Independent calls it “a zombie movie with a head and a heart -- as well as the obligatory severed limbs, gouged eyes, punctured organs.”

How they’re selling it: Publicity campaign includes “Danger of infection” biohazard stickers plastered on phone booths.

Why they’re buying it: Brits are in love with scenes of a deserted, post-apocalyptic London. And the film taps neatly into current fears. “The filmmakers have made much of the contemporary relevance and plausibility of their story,” notes Glasgow’s the Herald, “road rage, germ warfare, AIDS, Al Qaeda, soccer violence -- you name it....” But mostly, it’s about the fantasy and frisson of seeing one’s own city gone awry.

When the zombies arrive stateside: 2003.

-- Gendy Alimurung