28 Years Later Movie Review

Released: 19th June 2025 (UK and US)

Length: 115 Minutes

Certificate: 18

Director: Danny Boyle

Starring: Alfie Williams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes

Back in 2002, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland revolutionised the zombie sub-genre with a new breed of horror. After a long wait, the franchise is back; arriving in timely fashion after the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a fine return, though it doesn’t quite match the fear factor of the original.

As the title implies, 28 Years Later takes place decades after the original outbreak of the Rage virus. The UK has been fully quarantined and the remaining survivors are on their own, desperately trying to eke out an existence. We follow a small island community cut off from mainland Northumberland by the rising tide. The young Spike (Alfie Williams) ventures to the mainland with his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) to test his survival skills and kill an infected as a rite of passage. Spike grows distant from his peers as he charts his own path, seeking a doctor for his ailing mother Isla (Jodie Comer). 28 Days was a small-scale indie film with a hard-hitting punch, 28 Weeks took on a higher budget and launched into utter chaos. 28 Years is quiet and subdued, leaning into Danny Boyle’s artistic style. It successfully picks up where the last two films left off, vividly conveys the way people live and weaves in a poignant thread. It packs all of these elements in without becoming unbalanced, speaking volumes of Alex Garland’s writing talent. With that said, this sequel lacks the impact of its predecessors; the abrupt scares and rapid spread of infection have been put aside for this entry, though these may return in upcoming sequels.

Despite some big names, 28 Years Later belongs to Alfie Williams, who does great work for his feature film debut. Spike is very unsure of himself, caught between his father’s unflinching violence and the humanity that pierces through his mother’s illness. His confidence and survival skills slowly grow throughout the film, crafting a highly convincing arc. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer are very understated and while the former does get side-lined at the halfway mark, their performances are very effective. When they aren’t fleeing from the infected, you do feel the bonds within the family and how they shape the boy’s perceptions. Ralph Fiennes has a deeply fascinating role; a lone survivor who has dedicated himself to remembering the lost; he appears late in the film, but his presence is greatly felt. A brief turn from Edvin Ryding as a stranded soldier brings some light humour; much like the rest of the production, the cast is simple but effective.

Leaving behind the devastated cities for more rural survival, 28 Years Later is firmly set on a reclaimed natural world. Massive herds of deer and flocks of crows roam the landscape and all areas once inhabited have been stripped clean. Without spoilers, the use of a skull totem creates an intriguing display, one that adds to the character who built it. The film features many serene landscape shots that emphasise the natural landscape and how Britain continues on without our species. By contrast, the running dead remain as hideous and unsettling as ever; as the virus has evolved, we get different types of infected from bulbous crawlers to horrifying alphas. To reflect the passage of time, most of them are now unclothed and the physical acting is a big highlight. Some of the shots were done on iPhones to save costs; these come into play when the infected are killed with rapid cuts from one angle to another. It’s an interesting idea, but it does feel out of place when used multiple times. The soundtrack moves well away from John Murphy’s gritty tracks, opting for ambient undertones. Young Fathers does a solid job selling the more emotional moments, but the horror has lost some of its punch as a result.

28 Years Later falls somewhere in-between the stand-out returns and failed legacy sequels. This resurrected franchise is filled with potential and I hope the new direction will blossom in future efforts. For now, what we have is a competent and well-made production that will scratch that survival horror itch.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)