The Notable Regression of a Promising Selena in ‘28 Days Later’

In 28 Days Later, Jim woke up naked in a hospital bed and utterly alone much like Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead. He strolled through a church and around an eerily empty London, horrified by a sea of lifeless bodies and helpless to their zombie-like terror until lone survivors Selena and Mark save him from potential infection.

Selena is rightfully wise, hard edged, and resourceful. Her quick-thinking philosophy is fueled by strictly kill or be killed. During an apocalypse, there is no time to be weighed down by others. When trouble arises, Selena does not hesitate to perform whatever duty is necessary to survive another day. When her partner Mark is infected (thanks to Jim foolishly lighting a candle), Selena kills Mark swiftly. Of course, she would later contradict her words on damning the consequences of self-preservation, growing closer to Jim and newer rescuers Frank and his teen daughter Hannah. 

As the film progresses onward, focusing heavily on Jim and what Jim symbolizes, Selena shifts from the earlier anarchism to opening up to the people around her. Selena softens to Hannah (who first doesn’t let clearly unaffected Selena and Jim into safety), growing into both a friend and maternal figure. The two bond at the grocery store and further more in the loaded taxi, playing cards in the backseat. 

Selena’s dynamism loses ground after she, Hannah, and Jim are seemingly saved by militant forces— and these recruits are racist as hell. Selena and Hannah are facing the other nasty condition of the zombie relic—psychologically, physically disturbed men without women, a whole other kind of monster unprepared for. Before the trap is fully set, it becomes obvious that Selena and Hannah— the sole female survivors thus far— are vulnerable prey to a pack of desperate savages. Hannah being cast as a teenager as opposed to being Selena’s age demonstrates the sacred protection of white femininity. While rape and rape culture warrants no fulfilling content by any means, the fact remains that Selena’s age, body, and race are suddenly weaponized against her. She is stripped down, defenseless, subjected to using her sexuality for favors, being called a Black this, a Black that. If the Selena were white, her skin would not be addressed with such venom. This is especially heinous because the captain reveals to Jim that they kept a rage victim captive, in chains— lo and behold a Black man. Also Jim does leave another Black man to die a gruesome death without hesitation. Not once wondering if that poor Black man was purposely manipulated into joining that twisted military cult like some of the others. 

Naomie Harris is effective in the role requirements of Selena. The Academy Award nominated, BIFA award-winning actress skillfully performed what must be done with Alex Garland’s jaw dropping script. Between moments of physical exertion and mental gymnastics from the vile racism and sexism her character endures in that nearly final act, must have been extremely stressful. Also, Harris is no stranger in the genre realm, having co-starred in two Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, two 007 films, and surviving another science fiction thriller, Rampage. This box office success helmed by Danny Boyle and considered a cult zombie classic, was Harris’s first major film role and earned her a Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance. 

Amazingly, despite the situations Selena battles with a diligent strength and perseverance, 28 Days Later allows her to say the final words, humble and absolutely perfect with a winning, relieved smile. She is a saving grace considering that 28 Weeks Later, the follow-up sequel, features no Black women characters, but stars Black male actors Idris Elba and Harold Perrineau. So watch this vehicle for the sheer thrill of Selena kicking butt and knowing that she lives til the end.