Doomsday (2008 film)

Plot

In 2008, the Reaper Virus ravages Scotland, and the UK government erects a 30-foot wall to isolate the country. By 2035, the virus reappears in London, and satellite imagery shows survivors in Scotland, suggesting a cure or immunity. Prime Minister John Hatcher orders Captain Nelson to send a team led by Major Eden Sinclair, who was separated from her mother during the evacuation. The team crosses the wall to Glasgow, where they are ambushed by marauders.

Sinclair and virologist Dr. Talbot are captured by cannibals led by Sol, who plans to use Sinclair to invade England. Talbot is killed and eaten. Sinclair escapes with help from Cally, Sol's sister, and reunites with Sergeant Norton and Dr. Stirling. In London, Hatcher is infected and commits suicide, leaving advisor Michael Canaris in command.

Sinclair's group is captured by Kane, a former scientist turned feudal lord, who reveals there is no cure—only immunity. Kane sentences them to death, but Sinclair kills his executioner in a duel and escapes.

Cast

Rhona Mitra plays Major Eden Sinclair, a Department of Domestic Security officer inspired by Snake Plissken. Mitra trained for eleven weeks for the role. Bob Hoskins portrays Bill Nelson, Sinclair's boss, with Marshall seeking to emulate Hoskins's role from The Long Good Friday. David O'Hara plays Michael Canaris, a corrupt official with fascist leanings. Malcolm McDowell plays Marcus Kane, a former scientist turned feudal lord, based on Kurtz from Heart of Darkness; Marshall originally sought Sean Connery for the role. Alexander Siddig plays Prime Minister John Hatcher, originally written as sympathetic but revised to be more manipulative. Adrian Lester plays Sergeant Norton, and Craig Conway plays Sol, Kane's son and leader of the marauders, who was a child during the original quarantine.

Production

Director Neil Marshall, who lived near Hadrian's Wall, imagined a rebuilt wall due to a lethal virus. He envisioned futuristic soldiers facing medieval knights and found the English-Scottish border more plausible than a US-Canada boundary. The virus in Doomsday is an authentic plague that devastates the population, unlike zombie-like infections in other films. Marshall drew from tribal history to design the survivors' society, aiming for moral ambiguity by showing some English characters as selfish. The film is a tribute to 1970s and 1980s post-apocalyptic movies, including Mad Max, Escape from New York, and Excalibur. Marshall wanted to give a new generation the thrill of those films while updating the action and gore. The budget was three times that of his previous films Dog Soldiers and The Descent, and filming took place in Scotland and South Africa.

Release

Doomsday was originally set for distribution by Focus Features under Rogue Pictures but was transferred to Universal Pictures. It opened in the US and Canada on 14 March 2008 in 1,936 theaters, grossing $4,926,565 in its opening weekend and ranking seventh, which Box Office Mojo called a failed opening. The US run lasted 28 days, grossing $11,463,861. In the UK, Ireland, and Malta, it opened on 9 May 2008, grossing $2,061,794 total, considered a disappointing run. The film premiered in Italy in August 2008, grossing $500,000. Worldwide, it grossed $22,472,631. The film was not screened for critics in advance. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 50% approval rating; on Metacritic, a score of 51. Critics noted plot holes, underdeveloped characters, and excessive gore, with Alison Rowat of The Herald calling it 'decidedly everyday' and Steve Pratt of The Northern Echo citing gaping plot holes.