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The shoot that just keeps giving.

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The way you can just hear his giggle in the second gif.

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Random thoughts and feelings after viewing 28 years later.

Spoilers ahead. Also, this is WAY longer than I thought it would end up...

Random late night thoughts ahead. You are warned that this is disjointed and completely coming from the top of my head at this moment as I think about the movie.

I'm not a film critic, but I enjoy movies and TV series, especially ones where I have no idea where the plot is going, and are unique in filmography and style.

And my god, did I LOVE the style that this was shot and directed in. The first half of the movie, with the scene cuts, the comic style bow shot kills, the disjointed chase scenes with that soundtrack? 10/10. I was so into the world building, the aesthetic, just how different of a horror / zombie flick this was. It really felt original, but also paying homage to the original 28 days later movie.

I can understand why there have been some discourse over the second half of the movie, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it even with the tone shift. I did not expect to be moved at all by this movie. I felt like the underlining theme was just love and empathy. Following Spike's realization that his Dad might not be who he had hero worshiped in his mind, this led into the later half of the film. Spike has a soft heart, and even when his dad (I thought ATJ was brilliant btw) is screaming at him to kill the infected, you see the conflict inside him. He doesn't want to kill just to kill. And as the movie flips from Dad / son dynamic to Mom / son dynamic, you see where that soft empathic side has stemmed from. Although his mom is not well, and confused (and even seen to anger quick and not at all shy at throwing insults), at her core, she is just as soft and empathic as Spike. Instead of viewing the infected as things that need to be killed, underneath that, they are also just going about life the ONLY way they know how (killing people, yes, but also creating families, having connections amongst themselves? – how crazy did I feel when I started to feel sorry for the slow low family that gets killed in the first 10-15 mins of the movie – call me sensitive, I know I am!).

That shift of empathy further solidifies itself when Isla helps the preggo infected give birth (I'm with Erik on this, WTF is going on here!?), but it was also kind of oddly beautiful in a way? And then of course the real tear jerker at the end with Isla's death, and realizing that death is just a part of life, and that we're all meant to die someday and that in itself can be celebrated. Giving her the chance to claim her own life how she wants is somewhat beautifully done considering they're in a quarantined infected block of isolated land.

Holy did I not think that I'd ramble on this much over a ZOMBIE movie. But here we are.

I was vibing the whole day knowing I'd see Edvin on the big screen (no joke, I think I have a problem – I know I do...) and the moment he entered the screen, I am so biased in saying this, but I loved him from the first words out of his mouth (ugly fuckers!). The more I think of it, I'm more in love with his nuanced facial expressions than his lines. He is SO good at showing emotions through his face with zero words. He came across as SUCH a little hot headed WTF am I doing here character which I thought was such a great contrast to the characters we've already gotten to known and who grew up in this world. Erik (Edvin), is quite litterally thrown onto this piece of land that he knows is quarantined and he will now be stuck here untill his dying days. Through him, we understand now that the outside world is just the same as our current world. I can't get over how well he played the jaded fml character trop that was kind of representative of the audience (Where is Wille, where is linus, or strand? Not here). He had so many good lines – his delivery about his best friend Felix and how he should have been a delivery driver, to his "why do does she keep calling you dad?" quips. So so so well delivered. The only time the audience in my theatre laughed. I loved being able to share that experience with random strangers and think in my head, "fuck yes, Edvin, get those laughs!"

And the ending, quite honestly left me with a "WTF" moment, but I kind of loved it? Again, I'm a person who LOVES movies that can throw me for a loop as long as it fits the theme of the movie, so this was kind of a nice unexpected turn of events. I'll 100% watch the next instalments (maybe not in theatre, but defs on streaming).

Does the script have plot holes? Absolutely. But I'm kind of okay overlooking it because I was never pulled out of the world the movie build oddly enough. There's a little bit more disbelief and whimsical way about this movie that I can forgive a few of the plot holes – and I'm usually pretty negative when something seems way too far fetched in a movie context compared to the real world – but I was never pulled out of the world here which I think helped.

Overall, I think I'd give it a solid 4/5 rating. And in my biased little heart, I'm so, so, so happy that Edvin got to be a part of this movie experience.

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Absolute Stunner

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Still can’t get over this fit or this day.

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Movie star!!

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Holy content Batman!

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Love to see his smile.

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Bts of Edvin Ryding for Wonderland Magazine | via Wonderland

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Random thoughts and feelings now that I've finished A Life's Worth.

For anyone interested. This is long and there are obvious spoilers ahead.

First, loved the intro and song choice. The cinematography was simply stunning throughout the series and really put you in that time period. Kudos on that!

Throughout the 6 episodes, I loved the brotherhood feeling you get with the 4 mains. Even when they're in the worst situation they could find themselves, you see how they stick together and even find laughter together. It was so raw and authentic how they portrayed that. I feel like most hollywood tv / films would focus on the torture and the neglect when they get captured, and even though you see that in ALW, you also see them just being stupid and silly and having dumb conversations that boys WOULD have even given the circumstances.

Strand and Babic's relationship in particular I thoroughly enjoyed. It felt very older brother / younger brother bond. Also Toni Prince is an exceptional actor. The scene in ep. 2 where he's playing Russian roulette with himself, you can just feel the tension and energy and anger about not being able to do anything. And many of his other scenes, he pulled it all off so well.

Also this just made me giggle so bad lol, the thumb stoke of the boob. Loved Babic.

Speaking of relationships, even though this storyline was mostly in the background, I loved how they weaved them throughout the story and especially through Kilpo's story arc. Again, just being able to see different story's from the civilian's sides made it feel so real and make you see how senseless wars are.

Speaking of Kilpo, this scene made me say, "no you idiot, this is what gets you captured" out loud.

But his heart is in the right place, and he just wants to feel needed and like he's actually doing something good. Him finding Lana at the end was so uplifting and made me feel so happy for him. I think that's what got me the most – this show made you feel so hopeless the whole series, so when one tiny victory happens for one of the characters it just feels SO rewarding.

I felt for Andreasson in the position that he's in. He's literally playing the trolly game the entire series. Pull the lever to save one person, or don't pull the lever and maybe save 20 people. What to do for the greater good while leaving all personal feelings aside. Also screw off Erland. The scene where they talk about people having debates about the war infront of their TV hits super hard. Especially given what's going on currently in the world. You can sit in front of your news outlet and have an opinion all you want, but you aren't on the front lines, you aren't witnessing shit, you aren't living in fear as a civilian, and you aren't making literal life and death decisions on the spot.

Which brings us to Forss. YES to standing up to your dad here! And for not running. He is SO brave the things he did, when it could have been so easy for him to leave. And he never left! what a loyal comrade.

I don't really know what to say here, but this just made me feel so sad. Also, I almost thought the car was going to be not the right car. But thank god it wasn't.

Okay, and now we get to dumb idiot Strand and sweet Alma. The first few episodes Strand comes off as such a try-hard alpha male who is just ignorant and naive and like someone who joined the war to prove his manhood. But as the episodes go on, and you see that shell get stripped away, you realize he is just a dumb 19 year old virgin boy trying to find his place in the world. This scene right here, really hit me. The force of the hug and him just breaking down. Ugh just hit me in the feels. It felt cathartic to ME and I wasn't the one held captive for a week.

"I want to go home" :( <– this right here, he's too young to have seen and done the things that he has. He is able to be so open and vulnerable around Alma and that is SO beautiful.

AND ALMA IS COMING WITH HIM (I had so much hope here)

This felt SO SO real. The awkwardness, the pulling away because it tickles (this has actually happened to me and it's so awkward but ya, everything about doing it for the first time is awkward and this scene nailed that).

So much happiness. And I know, I know, I felt something was coming. It was too happy. But LOOK how HAPPY they were.

Gut punch to my stomach. Edvin, kudos to you sir. Also, while on the topic of Edvin's acting, the way he can go from soft baby boy in love, to angry, impulsive little shithead was crazy. Strand did so many crazy stupid things, but than was also just so in love with this girl and was so soft with her. Always a pleasure watching him do his thing, and I hope he continues to get projects to show it off.

Alma, you were so loved. Also again, cinematography was just chefs kiss.

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Can't wait for this one!

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Yep. Insane.

I just know this whole photoshoot is going to be so good!

New era, yes please!

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I just know this whole photoshoot is going to be so good!

New era, yes please!

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Good lord he’s beautiful.

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"They don't have names."

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Wanted to do something creative tonight. Ended up making a poster of Edvin Ryding. A likely thing for me to do I guess. I hope you enjoy it!

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Edvin on Instagram