If you heard that fans are freaking out over the new 28 Years Later trailer and feeling totally unsettled, you might imagine it’s because of the actual content of the film.
Is it a gory death scene hinted at?
An emaciated Cillian Murphy zombie running after Aaron Taylor-Johnson?
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No, it’s the audio playing in the background of the trailer.
Rather than a slowed down cover of a pop song as it seems every single trailer is using nowadays, instead they went another route completely.
This time, they went with a recording of a poem which is used by the US Navy Seals to psychologically torture their recruits.
Check out the trailer here and see if it puts you on edge.
The trailer for the film, which is set to star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell, released today ahead of the film’s release next year.
In the background, however, former US Navy Seals may have had their ears prick up at the sound of ‘Boots’.
The 1903 Rudyard Kipling poem is used in Navy Seal SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training, specifically a recording of it from 1915.
The poem is said to replicate the repetitive nature of marching, and is played throughout SERE training.
According to a US Navy Seal, who went through the training and spoke to Business Insider, he will ‘never forget’ the poem.
Ward Caroll, a Navy veteran, said he particular remembers reciting the poem ‘over and over again’ in a small cell.
SERE training is intended to prepare Navy Seals for the horrifying outcome that they are either captured or evading capture.
Perfect for a creepy zombie movie.
One tweet about the trailer said: “Whoever decided to put the Taylor Holmes recording of Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘Boots’ that’s used for US Military SERE Training in the #28YearsLater trailer deserves a f*cking award.”
Others commenting on the trailer on Reddit made the same connection, with some not even realising what the ‘song’ is – just that it freaked them out.
One said: “The audio is chilling. So nice it’s not just a typical slowed down cover of a 90’s song”.
Another commented: “That trailer stressed me out, damn", with another replying saying: “that poem is actually meant to do that to you."
Even the comments on a YouTube video of ‘Boots’ were all saying the same thing, with one viewer commenting: “This poem is included in the 28 Years Later trailer that just dropped.
“Whoever made that trailer needs a raise. Bonechilling stuff.”
Another went over to the video to comment: “I like how we all came here immediately after seeing 28 Years Later’s trailer. A perfect choice for that movie."
When looking in these comments though, you also find several traumatised Navy Seals having their say.
One commented: “Without the trauma of having to hear it endlessly, it's actually a really great poem and performance.”
Another said: “Ah yes, SERE school's greatest hits. Nearly 20 years later and this is now freshly imprinted in my brain again. Splendid.”
If you’d asked me before the 28 Years Later trailer came out whether a film company would be using military-grade psychological torture techniques to sell a film, I’d be shocked, but in this specific case, it’s gone down a treat.
28 Years Later will release 20 June 2025.
Topics: 28 Years Later, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Cillian Murphy, Film, Jodie Comer, TV and Film, YouTube, Music, Weird
Michael Slavin