🕷️ Crawler Inspector

[](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/) # [R-Rated Movie Club](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/) Subscribe Sign in # Sunday Matinee \#168 28 Days Later ### Streets deserted, streets divided, streets divine. Mar 22, 2026 1 Share **[28 Days Later](https://amzn.to/4eC2fEH)** \| 2002 [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043) \| [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/28-days-later/) \| [RRMC](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/moviedatabase) Context: Jim (Cilian Murphy in his first major role) wakes up, naked and alone, in a seemingly abandoned London hospital. With no signs of life indoors, he wanders outdoors and tried to piece together what has happened to this once-bustling critical city. **[Matthew 21:1-1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021%3A1-1&version=NRSVUE)** \| [EnterTheBible.org](https://enterthebible.org/book/matthew) Palm Sunday \| 03.29.2026 Context: After around three years of public ministry in and around the poor countryside of the Galilean region, Jesus and his disciples now proceed into the capital city of Jerusalem during the Passover celebration. The critical city is overflowing with people and those around him pick up on his presence quickly. > The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Movies and faith in your mailbox for free. **Commentary:** I remember seeing **[28 Days Later](https://amzn.to/4eC2fEH)** in the movie theater on November 1, 2002. It was opening night and I saw it alone and yet with a full house, in a beautiful movie theater in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming. I’d just moved there less than a month before and while I’d gone to the movies by myself several times by then, this was new. I was living in a new city and had a new job and while my work colleagues were great and the students were terrific, I hadn’t really made friends yet. It was early, of course, but when a great new movie came out, I knew I was going to be there alone. Those first few weeks were tough because I was experiencing what I thought was being alone. It turned out to be the beginning of a new experience: being lonely. And if you’ve never felt the difference, trust me, it’s huge. But as the film began that night, I didn’t realize it, not yet. This scene near the beginning of the film really struck me. How did they ever get London to be so deserted and with set design, even?! And yeah I count swirling papers and tipped over vehicles as set design! But more than the filmmaking, I was fascinated by Jim’s isolation. He doesn’t know where his family or friends are, or anyone for that matter. He is alone. As he wanders and wander and wanders, slowly his experience changes to something else entirely: being lonely. And again, the difference is huge. You can see it on his panicked face. And yeah, I was making the connections in real time. [](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-118-a-complete-unknown) [Sunday Matinee \#118 A Complete Unknown](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-118-a-complete-unknown) [Nate Melcher](https://substack.com/profile/7158850-nate-melcher) · March 30, 2025 [Read full story](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-118-a-complete-unknown) The parade of Jesus and his disciples with the crowds is anything but lonely. Filled with cheering, packed with animals, this parade fosters love and connections with a shared experience and shared hopefulness. I especially appreciate the utter joy of the crowd shouting “Hosanna!” (Save us now, please, God!) and “Son of David!” (we have a *new* king now, one from the lineage of our *greatest* king, so take *that*, Caesar!) They are together. They are so, so, so together. I smile just thinking about that parade. Of course, as the week goes on, the crowds will not just disperse. They will turn on Jesus. The disciples will not just part ways. They will desert Jesus. The streets will not just have people going about their daily lives. They will mock and ridicule Jesus as he makes his way to his final hour. A parade filled with people will become a parade of emptiness. Just like Jim’s. Just like mine. Jesus experiences what it really is to be not just alone, but lonely. He has prayed to God his divine Parent about this day. He has warned his disciples about this day. He has prepared his heart for this day. And yet, now he is lonely as he walks this road before him. The contradiction with the palm parade in today’s text is particularly painful. Did he take in every detail of that parade while it was still happening? Was he happy? Even if he knew what might come next? Do *any* of us truly appreciate our relationships *and do we express that to them?* The absence of others – the loneliness – shouldn’t be the rock bottom one hits before appreciation kicks in and expression occurs. When you’re done here, Dear Reader, leave a comment and text a friend\! It’s fun to recommend what we enjoy. Thanks for sharing R-Rated Movie Club with a friend. [Share](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-168-28-days-later?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share) Today is a “compare the contrast” day instead of a “wow, look how similar they are” day. One scene has empty streets that should be filled but are desolate for unusual reasons. The other has filled streets that are more filled than usual and for multiple reasons. And if I throw in my own scene, I was empty of friends when I’d been filled with many. Jim walked the streets of London and found friends. Jesus stumbled to Golgotha and found resurrection. And I wandered the streets of Cheyenne and found friends and my place, too, even if my roads finally brought me back to Minnesota. In each case, no one is alone. And thank God for that. *** ###### ***Disclosure: Some links here are affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I earn affiliate commission if you tap or click the link and finalize a qualifying purchase. You can also express your support by [Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/thelifemosaic) or as a [paid subscriber](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/subscribe).*** *** Glad you’re here today, Dear Reader. God’s peace and good movies to you\! [Leave a comment](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-168-28-days-later/comments) 1 Share Previous #### Discussion about this post Comments Restacks Top Latest Discussions No posts ### Ready for more? © 2026 Nate Melcher · [Privacy](https://substack.com/privacy) ∙ [Terms](https://substack.com/tos) ∙ [Collection notice](https://substack.com/ccpa#personal-data-collected) [Start your Substack](https://substack.com/signup?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_content=footer) [Get the app](https://substack.com/app/app-store-redirect?utm_campaign=app-marketing&utm_content=web-footer-button) [Substack](https://substack.com/) is the home for great culture This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please [turn on JavaScript](https://enable-javascript.com/) or unblock scripts

**[28 Days Later](https://amzn.to/4eC2fEH)** \| 2002 [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043) \| [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/28-days-later/) \| [RRMC](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/moviedatabase) Context: Jim (Cilian Murphy in his first major role) wakes up, naked and alone, in a seemingly abandoned London hospital. With no signs of life indoors, he wanders outdoors and tried to piece together what has happened to this once-bustling critical city. **[Matthew 21:1-1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021%3A1-1&version=NRSVUE)** \| [EnterTheBible.org](https://enterthebible.org/book/matthew) Palm Sunday \| 03.29.2026 Context: After around three years of public ministry in and around the poor countryside of the Galilean region, Jesus and his disciples now proceed into the capital city of Jerusalem during the Passover celebration. The critical city is overflowing with people and those around him pick up on his presence quickly. > The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Movies and faith in your mailbox for free. **Commentary:** I remember seeing **[28 Days Later](https://amzn.to/4eC2fEH)** in the movie theater on November 1, 2002. It was opening night and I saw it alone and yet with a full house, in a beautiful movie theater in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming. I’d just moved there less than a month before and while I’d gone to the movies by myself several times by then, this was new. I was living in a new city and had a new job and while my work colleagues were great and the students were terrific, I hadn’t really made friends yet. It was early, of course, but when a great new movie came out, I knew I was going to be there alone. Those first few weeks were tough because I was experiencing what I thought was being alone. It turned out to be the beginning of a new experience: being lonely. And if you’ve never felt the difference, trust me, it’s huge. But as the film began that night, I didn’t realize it, not yet. This scene near the beginning of the film really struck me. How did they ever get London to be so deserted and with set design, even?! And yeah I count swirling papers and tipped over vehicles as set design! But more than the filmmaking, I was fascinated by Jim’s isolation. He doesn’t know where his family or friends are, or anyone for that matter. He is alone. As he wanders and wander and wanders, slowly his experience changes to something else entirely: being lonely. And again, the difference is huge. You can see it on his panicked face. And yeah, I was making the connections in real time. [](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-118-a-complete-unknown) The parade of Jesus and his disciples with the crowds is anything but lonely. Filled with cheering, packed with animals, this parade fosters love and connections with a shared experience and shared hopefulness. I especially appreciate the utter joy of the crowd shouting “Hosanna!” (Save us now, please, God!) and “Son of David!” (we have a *new* king now, one from the lineage of our *greatest* king, so take *that*, Caesar!) They are together. They are so, so, so together. I smile just thinking about that parade. Of course, as the week goes on, the crowds will not just disperse. They will turn on Jesus. The disciples will not just part ways. They will desert Jesus. The streets will not just have people going about their daily lives. They will mock and ridicule Jesus as he makes his way to his final hour. A parade filled with people will become a parade of emptiness. Just like Jim’s. Just like mine. Jesus experiences what it really is to be not just alone, but lonely. He has prayed to God his divine Parent about this day. He has warned his disciples about this day. He has prepared his heart for this day. And yet, now he is lonely as he walks this road before him. The contradiction with the palm parade in today’s text is particularly painful. Did he take in every detail of that parade while it was still happening? Was he happy? Even if he knew what might come next? Do *any* of us truly appreciate our relationships *and do we express that to them?* The absence of others – the loneliness – shouldn’t be the rock bottom one hits before appreciation kicks in and expression occurs. When you’re done here, Dear Reader, leave a comment and text a friend\! It’s fun to recommend what we enjoy. Thanks for sharing R-Rated Movie Club with a friend. [Share](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-168-28-days-later?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share) Today is a “compare the contrast” day instead of a “wow, look how similar they are” day. One scene has empty streets that should be filled but are desolate for unusual reasons. The other has filled streets that are more filled than usual and for multiple reasons. And if I throw in my own scene, I was empty of friends when I’d been filled with many. Jim walked the streets of London and found friends. Jesus stumbled to Golgotha and found resurrection. And I wandered the streets of Cheyenne and found friends and my place, too, even if my roads finally brought me back to Minnesota. In each case, no one is alone. And thank God for that. ###### ***Disclosure: Some links here are affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I earn affiliate commission if you tap or click the link and finalize a qualifying purchase. You can also express your support by [Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/thelifemosaic) or as a [paid subscriber](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/subscribe).*** Glad you’re here today, Dear Reader. God’s peace and good movies to you\! [Leave a comment](https://rratedmovieclub.substack.com/p/sunday-matinee-168-28-days-later/comments)