28 WEEKS LATER — ** — Robert Carlyle, Imogen Poots, Mackintosh Muggleton; rated R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, brief partial nudity, brief sex, vulgarity).

"28 Weeks Later" invests considerable time trying to look and feel exactly like its predecessor, the 2002 science-fiction/horror hit "28 Days Later."

That means there are even more scenes of rage-infected zombies running amok through the countryside, more claustrophobic tunnel chases, more abandoned supermarket sequences ... and even another eye-gouging bit.

However, this bloody but bloodless sequel comes to life for only one too-brief scene: a night-vision subway sequence toward the end that hints what might have been if the filmmakers had tried to do something a little more original and inventive.

As promised by the title, the film picks up the story nearly a half-year later. The "rage" infestation of England is believed to be over, and survivors are being allowed to return to the country.

However, Britain is now occupied territory. NATO forces, led by U.S. Army Gen. Stone (Idris Elba), are keeping a close eye on the returning Brits.

Among the survivors are teenager Tammy (Imogen Poots) and her younger brother Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton). Their father, Don (Robert Carlyle), has also managed to emerge somewhat unscathed.

In fact, when the kids do explore some off-limits areas, they discover their mother (Catherine McCormack) is still alive. Unfortunately, she may be a carrier for the rage virus.

Co-screenwriter/director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo impressed with his inventive 2001 film "Intacto." But here he simply apes "28 Days Later" director Danny Boyle, as well as filmmakers Paul Greengrass and Robert Rodriguez. (The zombie attacks are as frenetic and incomprehensible as Greengrass' car chase scene from "The Bourne Supremacy," and a zombie-mowing-down basically duplicates the one from Rodriguez's "Grindhouse" feature.)

And some ludicrous plotting undermines the talented cast.

"28 Weeks Later" is rated R for strong horror and action violence (zombie attacks, shootings, explosive and vehicular mayhem), graphic gore, strong sexual language (profanity and crude slang), drug content (hypodermic needles, as well as toxic gas attacks), brief partial female nudity, and a brief sex scene. Running time: 99 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com