Film Review: 28 Years Later
In 28 Days It Began. In 28 Weeks It Spread. In 28 Years It Evolved.
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film 28 Years Later. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
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PLOT
Via Letterboxd: Twenty-eight years since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one member departs 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.
REVIEW
2002’s 28 Days Later has gone on to become one of the most impactful films of its year, widely regarded as a modern horror classic and frequently listed among the greatest zombie movies of all time; though, to be fair, the infected in the film aren’t technically zombies. Still, its influence on the sub-genre is undeniable. Its less beloved 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later, may not have reached the same critical heights, but it was a box office hit and kept interest in the franchise alive. Ever since then, going back to the twilight of the second Bush administration, rumors of a third installment have been floating around. Now, after nearly two decades of speculation, we’re finally getting that third film in 28 Years Later. Even better, Danny Boyle has returned to the director’s chair, and this film is the first chapter in what’s being positioned as a new trilogy to close out the saga for good.
I should mention upfront that I’m not the ideal audience for these movies. Love triangles, post-apocalyptic wastelands, and zombie horror are usually turnoffs for me. Two out of those three elements are baked into this franchise. So it’s no surprise that I had never gotten around to watching 28 Days or 28 Weeks until now. But with 28 Years on the horizon, I figured it was finally time to fill in my blind spot. To my own surprise, I found both previous films to be just okay enough. Coming from someone who doesn’t typically enjoy these kinds of stories, that’s actually a major compliment.
But here’s the real shock, I came away from 28 Years Later more than just satisfied, I was very impressed. Genuinely. In fact, I think this is easily the best entry in the franchise and, dare I say, one of the best zombie-adjacent films I’ve ever seen. (Granted, take that with a grain of salt given my lack of affinity for the sub-genre.) Yes, it’s still a post-apocalyptic horror story on paper, but this time around there’s a significant tonal shift. The film reframes the narrative as a “coming-of-age” epic centered around a young boy named Spike, played excellently by newcomer Alfie Williams.
Spike is an instantly compelling protagonist. Raised in a brutal world, he’s been taught to kill from a disturbingly young age. His father, played with gruff intensity by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, takes him beyond the safety of their community’s walls to hunt the infected, part-bonding ritual, part-survival training. Despite that bleak upbringing, Spike isn’t emotionally hardened. He deeply loves his mother, portrayed with heartbreaking tenderness by Jodie Comer, who suffers from a mysterious illness. His loyalty and desperation to help her give the story an emotional core that’s hard to shake. Even as just a boy, Spike already feels like the kind of character who could carry the weight of an entire trilogy.
Ralph Fiennes also deserves praise for his brief but impactful role as a doctor Spike seeks out; his screen presence is magnetic, and he leaves a lasting impression despite limited time.
Visually and stylistically, 28 Years Later also swings for the fences. Boyle experiments with the format by shooting certain scenes on iPhones, layering in mixed media elements like interspersed video clips and random sound bites to elevate key emotional beats. On paper, that kind of stylistic flourish could come off as pretentious, but here it works. It enhances the narrative and gives the film a distinctive, almost poetic rhythm.
The horror is still very much present. There are scenes that will make you wince, clutch your armrest, or even look away. During the prologue, a man sitting near me physically recoiled during a particularly grim moment involving children. It’s not sanitized or softened. But at its core, this is more of an emotionally driven, character-focused adventure than a straightforward horror flick. It feels closer in spirit to something like The Road meets Children of Men, with an emotional arc tied more to growth than gore.
My only real complaints? There’s a noticeable lull in the middle where the pace drags, and the film’s ending is undeniably abrupt; a clear setup for the next chapter rather than a satisfying resolution on its own. It’s the kind of ending designed to get audiences buzzing and theorizing, but it does feel like a bit of a cliffhanger cheat. And again, while I appreciated the film more than expected, post-apocalyptic zombie stories still aren’t my go-to genre, so there’s a ceiling on just how much I can personally connect with it.
That said, 28 Years Later is a stylish, emotionally gripping, and unexpectedly fresh take on a franchise that could’ve easily coasted on nostalgia. It’s the kind of bold reimagining that reminds you what’s still possible within genre storytelling. For fans of the previous films or zombie stories in general, this should absolutely be at the top of your watchlist. As someone who went in skeptical, I walked away a fan. I have to give it no lower than a solid B+ grade after my first watch.
GRADING
