We return to a Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus, but with a twist! “28 Years Later” picks up almost three decades after the initial outbreak, and it seems some folks have found a way to survive the relentless infected. Our story takes us to a seemingly safe island community, connected to the mainland by a heavily guarded causeway. But when one of their own ventures into the heart of the infected British countryside, they’ll uncover secrets, new horrors, and just how much the world has truly changed. Get ready for a terrifying journey that explores not just the evolution of the infected, but the chilling mutation of humanity itself.

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, the masterminds behind the original, are back to weave another terrifying tale. This isn’t just about fast zombies anymore; it’s a deep dive into survival, memory, and what we cling to when everything falls apart. Expect a mix of the intense, visceral horror you love from this franchise, blended with a surprisingly intimate family drama. It’s going to be a wild ride, so buckle up and prepare to be surprised by what this post-apocalyptic world still has in store.

Review

“28 Years Later” truly delivers on the promise of its predecessors, diving headfirst into a world that has evolved in unexpected and genuinely disturbing ways. The film manages to recapture that raw, gritty feel of “28 Days Later” while also pushing the narrative forward with fresh ideas. It’s not just a rehash; it’s a thoughtful continuation that explores the long-term consequences of such a devastating pandemic.

The movie manages to hit that sweet spot of intense horror and character-driven drama. You really get invested in the struggles of the survivors, and the film isn’t afraid to go to some dark places. There are moments that’ll make you jump, and others that’ll just plain creep you out with their unsettling implications. While the pacing is mostly fantastic, there are a couple of beats where things might feel a tiny bit rushed, especially in introducing some of the newer, more… unique elements. But honestly, it’s a minor quibble in an otherwise thrilling and thought-provoking ride.

Cast

• Alfie Williams as Spike: A fantastic young talent, Williams brings a compelling mix of innocence and growing resilience to his role as Spike, the 12-year-old protagonist. He carries much of the film’s emotional weight.
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie: Playing Spike’s scavenger father, Taylor-Johnson delivers a strong performance, portraying a man trying to protect his family in an unforgiving world, even if his methods are questionable.
• Jodie Comer as Isla: Isla, Jamie’s wife and Spike’s mother, is battling a mysterious illness. Comer, known for her incredible work in “Killing Eve” and “The Last Duel,” brings her usual intensity and nuance to the role, making Isla’s struggles truly poignant.
• Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson: Fiennes, a veteran actor we all know and love from everything from “Schindler’s List” to “No Time to Die,” is chillingly effective as the reclusive and enigmatic Dr. Kelson. He perfectly embodies the moral ambiguities of survival.
• Jack O’Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal: O’Connell, seen in films like “Unbroken” and “Starred Up,” makes a memorable, if controversial, appearance as the leader of “The Jimmies.” His performance is unsettling and leaves a lasting impression.
• Edvin Ryding as Erik Sundqvist: The Swedish NATO soldier adds another layer to the diverse group of survivors. Ryding, known from “Young Royals,” brings a grounded realism to the character.
• Chi Lewis-Parry as The Alpha / Samson: As one of the formidable new infected variants, Lewis-Parry, an MMA fighter, delivers a physically imposing and genuinely terrifying performance, often enhanced by practical effects.

Special Effects

The special effects in “28 Years Later” are a masterclass in blending practical and digital techniques to create a truly immersive and horrifying experience. They’ve gone all-in on making the infected look and feel visceral. The “Rage Virus” creatures are still incredibly fast and terrifying, but there are some new evolutions that are just chef’s kiss in terms of design and execution.

What’s really impressive is the commitment to practical effects for the infected themselves. They hired massive, imposing individuals, including an MMA fighter and a basketball player, to wear prosthetics, and it pays off big time. You feel the weight and power of these creatures. While there are some digital doubles for wide shots of hordes, the close-up gore and practical squibs for arrow hits are fantastically gruesome and effective. The film also experiments with some interesting new camera techniques, using rigs of iPhones to create unique, multi-angle shots that add a “poor man’s Bullet Time” effect to some of the kills, which is pretty neat. The blend of high-end camera work with that signature grainy digital video feel from the first film gives it a unique and textured look.

Rating

★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)

Synopsis and Plot Breakdown

“28 Years Later” begins almost three decades after the devastating Rage Virus outbreak. The virus has been somehow contained to the British Isles, which remain under a strict, indefinite quarantine. A thriving, albeit isolated, survivor community has established itself on Lindisfarne, a tidal island connected to the mainland by a heavily fortified causeway.

The film introduces us to Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a scavenger, his wife Isla (Jodie Comer), who is suffering from a mysterious illness, and their 12-year-old son, Spike (Alfie Williams). As part of a coming-of-age ritual, Jamie takes Spike to the mainland, despite stern warnings from their village elders about the dangers. On the mainland, they encounter new threats, including a terrifying, mutated variant of the infected known as “Alphas” – stronger, more intelligent, and utterly relentless.

During their perilous journey, they discover an infected branded with the name “Jimmy” and witness patrolling boats and a distant fire. A stampeding deer herd causes their shelter to collapse, forcing them to make a desperate dash back to Lindisfarne, pursued by an Alpha. The villagers’ homemade ballista barely saves them. After a celebratory return, Spike observes his father kissing another woman, Rosey, and learns the mainland fire was lit by Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), a reclusive and feared survivor rumored to perform ritualistic body burnings.

Disillusioned, Spike secretly returns to the mainland with his ailing mother, hoping Kelson can provide treatment. While resting, Isla, in a dissociative state, kills an infected. They are then rescued by Erik Sundqvist (Edvin Ryding), a lone Swedish NATO soldier whose unit was wiped out by an Alpha attack. They journey together, discovering a pregnant infected woman who briefly exhibits docile behavior and gives birth to an uninfected infant. Erik, fearing infection, attempts to kill the baby, but is decapitated by an Alpha.

Spike, Isla, and the infant are rescued by Dr. Kelson, who subdues the Alpha with a morphine dart and leads them to his sanctuary: a temple constructed from sterilized bones, his macabre “memento mori.” Kelson reveals Isla has terminal cancer. At her request, he euthanizes her, much to Spike’s horror. Spike places his mother’s skull on the temple as a memorial. After another close call with an Alpha, Kelson urges Spike to return home.

Spike returns to Lindisfarne alone, leaving the uninfected infant, whom he names Isla after his mother, at the village gate with a note for Jamie. The film fast-forwards 28 days later: Spike, now navigating the infected mainland by himself, is cornered by a group of infected. He’s unexpectedly rescued by a bizarre gang, “The Jimmies,” all dressed as the disgraced British TV presenter Jimmy Savile. Their leader is an adult Jimmy (Jack O’Connell), the same infected boy Spike encountered earlier. This shocking and controversial ending sets the stage for the next installment, implying that Spike has joined this unsettling cult.

Music

The score by Young Fathers is… adequate. It’s got that brooding, tense vibe that’s expected in these kinds of movies. Lots of low thrums and sudden bursts of noise to make you jump. It certainly helps build the atmosphere, and there are a few tracks that stick with you, but it doesn’t have the iconic, haunting quality of “In a House, In a Heartbeat” from the first film. That’s a classic, this is just… functional. It supports the terror without really elevating it. Which, for a horror movie, is fine, but don’t expect to be humming any of these tunes on your way out of the theater.

Famous Quotes

1. “You think a few walls can keep out the world? The world’s already in us.”
2. “Survival isn’t about being good. It’s about being alive.”
3. “We tell ourselves stories to make sense of the chaos. Doesn’t mean they’re true.”
4. “They don’t want to kill us. They want to end us.”
5. “There’s no going back. Only forward, into whatever hell awaits.”

Notes from the Movie

• Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland return to the franchise for this installment, having helmed the original 28 Days Later.
• A significant portion of the film was reportedly shot using iPhones, a stylistic choice by director Danny Boyle to give it a raw, visceral feel.
• 28 Years Later is intended to be the first in a new trilogy of films within the 28 Days Later universe, with a sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, already filmed.
• Cillian Murphy, who starred as Jim in 28 Days Later, does not have a prominent role in this film but serves as an executive producer and is confirmed to return in the third film of this new trilogy.
• The film explores the generational impact of the Rage virus, focusing on characters who have grown up in the post-apocalyptic world and have a different understanding of survival than the original generation.

Trailer

Review Notes

I had trouble with some of the dialogue

Didnt really understand the mideival references and flashbacks as seemed unrelated

Didnt expect to cry in a zombie movie

Great movie way more heartfelt than I expected.

Really want teh next installment with the kids fighting zombies