Memento Mori

[DISCLAIMER]

*28 Years Later spoilers contained herein.

Photo credit, property of Sony Pictures Releasing, fair use

I enjoyed the 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Days Later which featured the character of a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to discover that the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the breakdown of society. Per one source:

The series is set to continue with a trilogy of sequels in various stages of development, all distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing through its Columbia Pictures label. The first sequel, 28 Years Later, was released in 2025, with a follow-up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, slated for release on 16 January 2026.

I recall watching 28 Days Later during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing correlations between pandemonium observed in the film and chaos witnessed in real life. Therefore, I was interested to see how 28 Years Later would develop, as one source describes the film thusly:

It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected.

One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

When watching a post-apocalyptic horror film, I generally don’t anticipate walking away with an interesting psychoeducational lesson on mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to have taken from 28 Years Later a useful existential lesson. Spoiler time!

Child character Spike’s mom, Isla, has terminal cancer. Rather than remaining on the relatively safe island that separates uninfected people from infected mutants, Spike takes his mother to see Dr. Ian Kelson. I found Spike’s resolve to be a representation of youthful hope.

All the same, Spike ultimately discovers that Dr. Kelson – who’s erected a boneyard temple with a monument of stacked skulls in the middle – can do nothing to save Isla. A lesson on the impermanence and uncertainty of life was then touchingly represented therein.

In specific, when Spike, Isla, and Dr. Kelson sit around a fire at nighttime the physician reveals Isla’s diagnosis and prognosis. She will inevitably die—as will we all, whether by effects of cancer or otherwise. The following dialogue then unfolds:

Isla: I thought it might be cancer, didn’t know how to tell you [Spike]. I was too scared. But I needed someone else to tell you, but no one did.

Spike: I don’t understand. You saying you can’t make [my] mom better?

Dr. Kelson: I wish I could, but I’m afraid it’s not possible.

Spike: What does that mean? Is she gonna die? Is the cancer gonna kill her?

Dr. Kelson: Yes.

Spike: When?

Dr. Kelson: It’s hard to say. Soon.

Spike: Will it hurt her?

Isla: Spikey, [my] love, already hurts.

Spike: [standing up] This can’t be happening! Doctor, please, please, you must be able to help her! You need a medicine…one of the old medicines from the hospitals. If you tell us where it was, most likely, I can go—

Dr. Kelson [standing up and approaching a self-disturbed Spike]: Spike. Spike!

Spike: —and I can get it!

Dr. Kelson: Listen to me.

Spike: Just tell us, please.

Dr. Kelson: There is no medicine that can cure her.

Spike: Doctor, no, no, please. It was so hard to get here. It was so hard to find you.

Isla: Spike, come here.

Spike: Now, you’re saying you can’t help.

Isla: Come. [Isla stands and embraces Spike as he bawls in his mother’s arms]

Dr. Kelson: [prepares a blowgun]

Isla: [speaking to Spike] I should’ve told ya. Should’ve told ya. [nodding to Dr. Kelson as Spike’s back is to him] Spike, the doctor can’t make me better, but he can help me.

Spike: I don’t understand.

Isla: I do. I want you to try [to] always remember that. [whispers unintelligibly]

Dr. Kelson: [blows dart, striking Spike]

Spike: Mom!

Isla: You’re all right, you’re all right.

Spike: Mom. Mom!

Isla: Shhh, just rest. It’s okay. [Isla retrieves an infant from a basket, addressing Spike] Look who it is.

Dr. Kelson: Spike, memento mori, what did it mean?

Spike: Remember we must die.

Dr. Kelson: And it’s true. There are many kinds of death, and some are better than others. The best are peaceful, where we leave each other in love. Do you love your mother?

Spike: I love her.

Dr. Kelson: And Isla, you love Spike?

Isla: So much.

Dr. Kelson: Memento amoris, remember you must love. Isla, come.

Isla: Stay here with the baby. I love you, Spike. [Dr. Kelson and Isla leave the fire]

Spike: Mom?

Dr. Kelson: [blows dart, striking Isla as the fire around Spike grows significantly brighter and memories of Spike and Isla are featured while soft music plays]

I didn’t know what to expect of 28 Years Later. Truly, I didn’t anticipate being treated to what I consider a beautifully themed depiction of love between a parent and child, as well as a helpful reminded about life and death. “Memento mori,” remember we (empirically) must die.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Empirical should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/empirical-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Existentialism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/existentialism

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, October 21). Impermanence and uncertainty. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/impermanence-and-uncertainty

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health

Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth

Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

IMDb. (n.d.). 28 Years Later. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10548174/

Movieposters.com. (n.d.). 28 Years Later [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.movieposters.com/products/28-years-later-mpw-148006

Wikipedia. (n.d.). 28 Days Later. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_Days_Later

Wikipedia. (n.d.). 28 Days Later (film series). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_Days_Later_(film_series)

Wikipedia. (n.d.). 28 Years Later. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_Years_Later

Wikipedia. (n.d.). 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_Years_Later:_The_Bone_Temple