28 Years Later – REVIEW

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The timeframe isn’t about Brooklyn Beckham answering a question on Mastermind, but rather it pertains to the third installment of Danny Boyle’s ’28’ trilogy, which serves as the beginning of another series (with the following film due in summer 2026). In this movie, a virus has turned most of the UK population into zombies, effectively isolating the country from Europe – a possible nod to Brexit. The film opens with a graphic scene showing a group of children watching Teletubbies; it’s set in 2002 when the infected break into their home and chaos ensues, establishing the gruesome tone for what follows. One of those children is Jimmy, who we revisit 28 years later as a father to 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams) and husband to Isla (Jodie Comer), who’s bedridden due to an unspecified illness causing mental deterioration that mirrors King Charles being told “Harry’s on the phone” in terms of aggressive, profanity-laced outbursts.

Residents of Holy Island lead an off-grid lifestyle, eschewing modern amenities such as electricity, internet, and weaponry beyond bows and arrows for self-defense against the infected. In this setting, Jimmy and his son embark on a rite of passage where they use these weapons to hunt their first infected creature. The scenes are skillfully crafted, instilling a palpable sense of danger. However, Spike will later discover that his father isn’t as strong as he believed, prompting the boy to take his ailing mother back to the mainland in search of help. There, he finds a Dr., portrayed by Ralph Fiennes with a reddish tinge and an unkempt appearance suggesting a disastrous shaving mishap, who may be able to treat her illness.

In a screenplay penned by Alex Garland, the narrative unfolds over two hours, brimming with intriguing and sometimes gruesome scenes that will make you squirm (an emotional scene towards the end of the movie even left my companion in tears). The script also includes some humorous lines, particularly one involving a photo of a Swedish soldier’s girlfriend. As the story progresses, the concept of the infected evolves into three categories: crawlers resembling bloated sacs of waste, standard infected humans who can chase you down, and the most concerning – super-infected beings that are far more intelligent, powerful (capable of tearing off heads with attached spines, similar to the Predator), and extremely difficult to eliminate.

In his ongoing filmmaking journey, Boyle employs innovative techniques such as shooting the movie on an iPhone and adopting an experimental style in the initial act. This unique approach involves interweaving scenes of the struggle against the infected with historical footage reminiscent of Henry V’s Battle of Agincourt and his archers. The blend works effectively, although the final scene might spark debate among viewers as it sets up for the next installment. Interestingly, this film surpasses ’28 Weeks Later’, offering a captivating experience for both horror enthusiasts and fans of Boyle’s work, despite the common trend of franchise quality declining in the third film.

Here’s Danny Boyle introducing the film at the premiere……..

Here’s the 28 Days later trailer…….

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2025-06-19 16:23