Why does Dr. Kelson use Iodine against the Infected in 28 Years Later? Explored in depth

Most of the Rage Virus, which first broke out in 2002, remains mostly contained to one island in 28 Years Later. There wasn’t an effective medicine against it — perhaps that’s why it proved so destructive. A human coming into contact with it would stop at nothing to kill any living being nearby.

After nearly three decades, we may not have a cure, but the film introduces a surprising repellent: iodine. Dr. Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, uses it constantly — though you might not notice until he mentions it. He explains in the film:

"Excuse my appearance. I paint myself in iodine. The virus doesn't like iodine at all."

If you notice, his skin is kind of yellowish with some red tint all over his body. That’s him wearing iodine. Think of it as mosquito repellent. If the Rage Virus-infected humans are mosquitoes, iodine is a repellent for them. Kelson calls it a natural prophylactic that can be used against the threat in the movie.

Fiennes himself elaborated on this in an interview, as reported by the Daily Tribune. He said:

"One of Kelson’s defining traits is that he covers himself in iodine, which is a prophylactic against the rage virus. So, Kelson is covered in reddish-orange iodine, and then we made the decision to have his head shaven, which we thought was a strong look."

It was indeed a strong look — perhaps the strongest in 28 Years Later — especially given the fact that he plays a totally different kind of character here. Even hunters like Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) initially seem afraid of him.

Dr. Kelson's role in 28 Years Later

Dr. Kelson is honoring the dead in 28 Years Later. (Image via Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Ralph Fiennes’ character is first introduced when Jamie and Spike (Alfie Williams) are hiding after an ambush and see a bonfire in the distance. Spike later learns in the village that people keep their distance from Kelson, mostly because he ritualistically burns the bodies of the dead. He comes off like a psycho.

But Kelson might actually be the sanest man on the island. He’s not burning the bodies for fun or to pass the time. He believes the dead deserve respect — and that’s why he’s doing their funerals. And since he’s out there in the open, iodine is probably his best friend. It keeps the infected away.

One of the things he does is build bone structures — those are the sterilized bones of the dead. He becomes an aide to Spike and his mother, Isla (Jodie Comer), in 28 Years Later, but not for long. Being a real doctor, he tells Isla she has cancer — a sickness that’s initially a mystery in the movie.

Isla doesn’t want to die from cancer, so she asks Kelson to euthanize her. After it’s done, he offers her skull to Spike, who places it on top of Kelson’s bone temple.