28 Years Later

Release Date: 2025 Length: 115 min

“You remember the first time you showed me the angel, Dad? We drove near here with the car. We walked until we spotted it rising over the treetops. You said it would stand like this forever, like the pyramids or Stonehenge so when you look at it you’re seeing into the future. Do you remember that? Do you? I couldn’t have been more than seven or eight. “Was the two of us, real life time travelers,” you said. Falling into the future. And I got… I got scared! Because I thought you were being serious and we really had. How many hundreds of years have we fallen this time? Is it thousands or more?” -Isla

Director: Danny Boyle (Known for Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire) Writer: Alex Garland (Known for 28 Days Later, Ex Machina, Civil War) Actors: Jodie Comer (Known for Killing Eve, Free Guy, The Last Duel), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Known for Kick Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bullet Train), Alfie Williams

Summary: It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well. -IMDb

Overall Thoughts: I’m a huge fan of the first film in the series, 28 Days Later, so when I heard that the director and writer were making this film, I immediately got excited. I think that overall, this film definitely lived up to expectations. The first five minutes of the film bring the audience instantly into a state of anxiety, horror, and just absolute sheer terror. I love how the opening scene appeals to both viewers who have seen 28 Days Later and those who have not, as it conveys the same sort of feel as the previous film, while also reintroducing to new viewers the ugliness of what occurred in those early days of the pandemic. Another reason why I think that people should see this film is that it is filmed in incredibly clever ways. There is one scene in particular where two of the main characters are crossing this partly submerged bridge while a zombie is chasing them, and it doesn’t sound like it, but it is just so beautiful and stressful to watch at the same time. I have a lot of respect for the director Danny Boyle for displaying the film in so many innovative ways that add to the film’s suspense. This film does fall in the zombie horror category, but it is also so much more than that. To me, it’s about the bond between a mother and her child. For those who haven’t watched the film, the character of Isla, played by Jodie Comer, has a mentally debilitating illness that forces her and her son to travel in zombie-infested lands seeking treatment. One beautiful scene that really impacted me was when, in a particular moment, Spike is asleep and is almost killed by a zombie, and Isla protects her son. What’s so moving about this scene is that Isla is previously shown as someone weak both physically and mentally, and yet, the instinct to protect her child is so fierce that it transcends any barriers she faces. Obviously, this is an extreme scenario, but I think this scene and others like it serve as messages to the audience about the force that is motherhood, especially in the hardest of times. I also think that it goes without saying, but the performances of Jodie Comer and newcomer Alfie Williams are fantastic. It’s easy to forget while watching this film that they are just actors instead of mother and son. I also love the inclusion of Ralph Fiennes’ character in this film. Without going into too many spoilers, he plays a character who is a loner with respect and empathy for all life, including that of the zombies. I think that he brings hope to the main characters and the audience that there is still some good left in this scary and vicious world. His character, which he plays so well, really helps the film introduce the idea in the audience’s mind that all life is sacred and worthwhile. The only critique that I would have for this film (anyone who has read any other review for this film has probably already heard this) is that it should have ended 5 minutes earlier. In case you don’t know, many audiences did not like the ending scene because they found it to be too weird and confusing. I personally didn’t completely hate it, but I do agree that it is more confusing than mysterious. I know that the writer probably included it in this film to help with the continuation of the story in the upcoming films. Personally, I think the film would have been better if they had left out that scene and then made it the beginning of the next film instead. That way, this ending is not so disconnected from the rest of the film, and more intrigue is created at the beginning of the next one. In summary, no, this film is not quite as good as the original 28 Days Later. I do, however, strongly recommend it to any fans of the previous films, as it really does contribute nicely to the 28 Days Later universe and serves as a much-desired look into what happened long after the pandemic first began. I am very excited to see how the story unfolds in the next film that is coming out in 2026.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88% My Rating: 85%