The iPhone’s impressive video capabilities are well-established, and its use in professional iPhone filmmaking is increasingly common. Acclaimed director Danny Boyle is the latest to embrace this trend, utilizing iPhones for significant portions of his upcoming horror sequel, 28 Years Later.
For the new installment in the 28 horror trilogy, which centers on a deadly virus outbreak, Boyle integrated a variety of cameras, including three specialized rigs outfitted with iPhones. These custom setups varied in scale: one rig held eight iPhones and was designed for easy portability by a single operator, another incorporated ten iPhones, and the largest featured twenty iPhones.
“There’s an incredible shot in the second half [of the film] where we use the [20-camera rig], and you’ll know it when you see it,” Boyle told IGN in a recent interview. He described the shot as “quite graphic but it’s a wonderful shot that uses that technique, and in a startling way that kind of kicks you into a new world rather than thinking you’ve seen it before.”
The celebrated director compared the 20-iPhone rig to “basically a poor man’s bullet time,” alluding to the classic visual effect seen in The Matrix. He elaborated that this multi-camera array captures a 180-degree perspective of an action sequence. In the editing process, this allows for diverse creative choices, from a conventional single-camera viewpoint to an immersive experience that can “instantly make your way around reality, time-slicing the subject, jumping forward or backward for emphasis.”
Boyle explained that for a horror movie such as 28 Years Later, “we use it for the violent scenes to emphasize their impact.” He highlighted that this innovative approach aims to make the audience feel “inside the scene, the action, rather than classically observing a picture,” demonstrating the iPhone’s potential in modern cinematic techniques.
28 Years Later is set to hit screens on June 20, offering audiences a chance to re-enter the chaotic world while also witnessing Boyle’s skillful deployment of the iPhone as a potent moviemaking tool. This highlights the evolving landscape of film production and the growing role of mobile technology.
