28 Years Later

Rating 7/10

Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland teamed up on the 2002 film 28 Days Later. The kinetic zombie picture was a reinvention of the genre that left an enduring legacy. It was their second collaboration after The Beach (2000). Garland’s emotionally charged writing and Boyle’s visceral style were a perfect match. Though the glossier sequel 28 Weeks Later (2007) was a solid hit, neither Boyle nor Garland were creatively involved—Boyle only served as executive producer, and Garland had moved on to other projects.

In the years since, both have become prominent voices in cinema—Boyle with films like Slumdog Millionaire and Steve Jobs, and Garland as the writer-director of Ex Machina and Annihilation. Now, the creative team reunites for 28 Years Later, which is the first in a tentatively planned trilogy.

This account picks up in the year 2030, nearly three decades after the original Rage Virus devastated the UK. While the rest of continental Europe has since eradicated the virus, the British Isles remain under strict quarantine, effectively cut off from the rest of society. Our tale begins on a remote tidal island off the northeastern coast of England, connected to the mainland by a fortified causeway. There, a tight-knit community of survivors has established an isolated society.

Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is raising his son Spike (Alfie Williams) to be tough and self-reliant. Meanwhile, his wife Isla (Jodie Comer) is bedridden with a serious disease. Jodie Comer’s role becomes significantly larger than is initially teased. Isla shares a close bond with her son, Spike, who remains devoted to her even as the relationship with his father deteriorates. Actor Alfie Williams, who plays Spike, is really the heart and soul of the picture. As someone who is slowly beginning to understand the world around him, he is forced to grow up very quickly. Williams excels at drawing us into his character’s emotional plight.

The narrative shifts focus when Spike and his mom venture out to the mainland. There, they meet a Swedish NATO soldier (Edvin Ryding) whose presence injects some much-needed humor. His comic relief also serves as the voice of reason, providing the audience with a breather from the brutality. When Ralph Fiennes appears late in the film as Dr. Ian Kelson, his much-appreciated presence also adds depth. Covered in a red iodine-based antiseptic, he is a striking figure. Kelson’s monument of human skulls piled high is a memorial to the dead that is highlighted on the movie poster.

I was surprised—in a good way— by the mix of frantic spirit and arthouse sensibilities. But then again, this series has always been about more than the infected. From the very beginning, it has explored themes of isolation, societal collapse, and the attempts to rebuild communities in the aftermath of a catastrophe. 28 Years Later continues that tradition—sometimes to a fault. This is an introspective character study, not wall-to-wall horror.

When violence erupts, though, it is savage. The predators have evolved—faster, stronger, and more terrifyingly intelligent than before. One of them, “Samson” (6’9″ MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry), emerges as a terrifying Alpha. He pursues Jaime and Spike in a nerve-shredding chase that is a high point not only in this chapter but also in the franchise. The thrills are intense, a reminder of how dangerous this environment remains even years after the initial outbreak.

This contemplative work is as invested in its human survivors as it is in zombie attacks. Conversations, moral dilemmas, and the lingering trauma of resisting infection are the foundation.  For some viewers, that slow-burn approach will feel like a betrayal, but for me, it was a natural evolution of the franchise’s deeper ideas.

Turns out that the film’s biggest gamble is its ending. Rather than provide closure, 28 Years Later reveals an ulterior motive. It ends on a cliffhanger, setting up the next two chapters in a planned trilogy. We’re introduced to Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), a charismatic cult leader whose group has elevated him to near-religious status. It’s an intriguing twist but not a satisfying conclusion. For viewers (like me) who value a self-contained story, this non-ending feels frustratingly incomplete.

Still, despite the extreme gore and unsettling vision of a ravaged civilization, 28 Years Later finds unexpected depth—particularly in those quieter scenes involving Spike. The 11-year-old provides a deep emotional core amongst the carnage. It’s in these moments that the film truly shines, reminding us that this series thrives on humanity. It lurches and limps but ultimately bursts through the door with bloodied fists—undeniably alive.

06-19-25