28 Years Later Review: A Brilliant Follow-Up To A Seminal Horror Film

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Initially, I wasn’t very hopeful about watching “28 Years Later“; it’s a completely different era compared to when “28 Days Later” was released in 2002. Unlike “Night of the Living Dead,” which established the undead in the late ’60s, “28 Days Later” took the concept further by depicting fast, sleek zombies running through London. However, Danny Boyle’s film was primarily a groundbreaking movie that highlighted the real terror is human nature – a theme that other zombie series like “The Walking Dead” have embraced, particularly its 11-season TV run. Given that it’s been over 20 years since the original release, I had doubts if “28 Years Later” could match the originality of its predecessor.

It turns out I was mistaken about “28 Years Later.” While not as revolutionary as “28 Days Later,” Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have managed to breathe fresh life into familiar concepts. For instance, a poem by Rudyard Kipling, titled “Boots,” which was recited by Taylor Holmes in 1915, is included in the film just as it was in the trailers. However, unlike the trailers, the movie uses this poem as a tool to interweave scenes of zombie fights with depictions from World War I, II, and even medieval times, or scenes designed to resemble the Middle Ages. This results in an impression of an ongoing battle and the sense of either its futility or its glory, depending on one’s perspective. Regardless, this is a novel approach for zombie movies, as battles in war settings are not typically associated with zombies—but “28 Years Later” draws parallels between the two.

In addition, there are other instances like the stunning cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle. Notably, Dod Mantle worked on “28 Days Later” as well, and despite the grim atmosphere in this latest film, it’s seldom been this visually appealing. This is all thanks to Dod Mantle’s beautiful framing.

The team has a significantly larger budget for this movie compared to before. Since “28 Days Later”, both Boyle and Garland have seen their careers soar. Boyle directed the Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire” and Garland has directed movies such as “Civil War” and “Ex Machina”. As a result, they’ve been given a substantial amount of additional funding to produce this movie compared to the initial one, or even the Boyle- and Garland-produced “28 Weeks Later” (the 2007 sequel directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo). This extra money is evident in the film with an abundance of sweeping landscapes and detailed close-ups of the infected.

The story is told in two acts

In this film, there are two distinct segments: one depicts 12-year-old Spike (played by Alfie Williams) bonding with his father (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), while another showcases his relationship with his mother (Jodie Comer, delivering an exceptional portrayal). While nations like France and Sweden have managed to repel the zombies and resume normal life, the U.K. has not. Consequently, the entire country is under lockdown, with no one allowed in or out, leaving people to survive on their own. The movie opens with Spike, who has never experienced any other reality, getting ready to venture onto the mainland alongside his dad, Jamie. They reside on an island in the Atlantic Ocean that can only be accessed during low tide via a causeway linking it to the mainland.

On the mainland, Spike takes out a few infected using a bow and arrow, but freezes in fear when a group of zombies approach them. His father nearly drags him back along the causeway towards home, and they somehow manage to make it. The village has organized a celebration in honor of Spike, where Jamie regales everyone with exaggerated stories about Spike’s brave actions on the mainland.

In the story, Spike is puzzled by Jamie’s deceit and saddened due to witnessing him with a woman who isn’t his mother. Consequently, Spike decides to leave the gathering and heads home, where he spends time with his ailing mother, Isla. While on the mainland, Spike notices a blaze, which he later learns signifies the location of a doctor residing there. His father warns him about Dr. Kelson (portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, who delivers an exceptional performance) and advises against trusting him. However, Spike is determined to get his mother, who has been without medical attention for years, to this doctor due to her ill health. Thus, Spike and Isla embark on a journey to the mainland, where they encounter various experiences and ultimately meet Dr. Kelson in a melancholic yet hopeful latter part of the film.

Zombies are the real threat

Instead of the soldiers in “28 Days Later” being hostile and aggressive, the individuals in “28 Years Later” are surprisingly kind-hearted. Even the military figure Spike and Isla encounter, Eric (Edvin Ryding), may appear grumpy, but he’s generally amiable – at least until their situation becomes untenable. Throughout the film, there are numerous instances of people (especially children) hiding under grates, but it’s to evade zombies rather than other humans. The movie seems to convey a message: “trust each other and concentrate on the true threat.

Towards the end of the movie, Spike encounters Jack O’Connell as Jimmy Crystal, who was a child at the start of the film. He’s now leading a group of formidable zombie slayers. They help Spike defeat a horde of swift zombies, but Spike notices that Crystal wears an inverted cross pendant. This seems to foreshadow the upcoming film, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” directed by Nia DaCosta. It may delve into the opposite side of the story involving this cult of blond saviors. We’ll have to wait until its 2026 premiere to find out if it leaves as big an impression.

Currently, we’re stuck with a moving narrative about a young lad dealing with his mom’s sickness and the daily presence of zombies. The film “28 Years Later” is both frightening and heartwarming, amusing, and violent, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

28 Years Later premieres in cinemas on June 20th. To catch up on all events leading up to this film within the series, be sure to read Looper’s comprehensive summary.

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2025-06-19 00:00