The Reel Review
Set 28 years after a rage virus turning people into zombies resulted in the UK being cordoned off from the rest of the world, a young boy sets out with his mother to find a doctor who might be able to diagnose her own mysterious illness. Alfie Williams, Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes star in this horror/thriller.
Director Danny Boyle’s latest installment, after 2002’s 28 Days Later and 2007’s 28 Weeks Later, is set on a tidal island off the Scottish coast and the mainland, a heart of darkness accessible from the heavily fortified island only during low tide. 14-year-old Williams (A New Breed of Criminal) is impressive in carrying the film, with superb performances from the other, more well-known leads. Fiennes, in particular, is excellent as the mysterious, eccentric doctor who turns out to be very different from how he is initially perceived.
The first hour and 45 minutes is an only slightly too long thrill ride, featuring lots of action and a variety of zombies ranging from the slow-moving overweight crawlers to the fast running and more clever alpha zombies who are more athletic and larger in every way – there must have been a sale on giant penile prosthetics in the practical effects department. The ending unfortunately is a bit off, with a kooky vibe more like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that, while setting up the next installment, detracts from the film’s headier themes of celebrating loved ones after their deaths.
REEL FACTS
• 28 Years Later was shot back-to-back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set to be released in January 2026.
• Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland hope to make a fifth film in the years to come.
• Cillian Murphy, who starred in the original film and served as executive producer on this one, has not ruled out an appearance in a future sequel. The rumors, however, that one of the zombies featured prominently in 28 Years Later was his character are false.
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