Review: 28 Years Later

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Official synopsis: A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When young Spike (Alfie Williams) leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors.

28 Days Later is one of my favorite horror films and hearing Danny Boyle and Alex Garland would be back for another installment after skipping the sequel, 28 Weeks Later was enough to have me seated. 

I have to say, the trailers did a great job of not showing you exactly what this movie was about. In fact, the film is kind of split into three mini stories. One of Spike and his dad (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) on a coming of age journey. The second, a survival story with his mom (Jodie Comer) and the third, encountering the doctor (Ralph Fiennes) he had been searching for. The ending also directly leads into the sequel that has already been filmed. More on that later.

It's nice to see Danny Boyle with a budget considering he shot 28 Days Later on a potato. He has some truly stunning visuals in this film. The alpha zombie in the distance in the sun set? All timer creepy image. But what he really hit the jack pot with is Alfie Williams as a lead actor. We all know the adults in this film are great actors, but this kid knocks it out of the park. He and Comer together are really something special. I did not have "crying in 28 Years Later" on my Bingo card this year, but there I was, trying to suck in an ugly cry.

I will say, the film doesn't always feel cohesive between these stories. It's not that any of them are bad, they all make sense, but the flow isn't as seamless as it could be. The ending is really what is going to divide people. I found it funny, and it gets me hyped for the sequel, but I cannot lie that it isn't a jarring tonal shift from everything we saw before. 

If you're a fan of this series, Years is definitely worth your theater money and I can't wait to see what Nia DaCosta and Alex Garland come up with in The Bone Temple.

Grade: B


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