Danny Boyle’s confidently harrowing 2002 horror film is the thinking man’s zombie movie. What lifts it to a genre peak is its savage ability to be conscientiously terrifying. There is gore here, and a white-knuckle intensity (unlike George A. Romero’s lurching stiffs, these zombies give real chase). But the monsters aren’t really undead—they’re inhuman, the metaphorical implications of which the film riffs on in visceral, discomforting ways. More importantly, you care what happens to Days’ heroes. In times of infectious, paralyzing horror, Boyle gives real resonance to the necessity of protecting what’s most decent inside our blood. (R) STEVE WIECKING

Aug. 20-26, 7 & 9:45 p.m., 2009