28 Years Later review: Soulful, scattered, and soaked in gore

Danny Boyle’s Gritty Sequel Brings Back the Rage Virus with Visual Chaos and a Surprising Heart

28 Years Later review: It’s been decades since 28 Days Later introduced sprinting zombies and a hauntingly empty London—and the new sequel brings that terror roaring back with fresh intensity. Now, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland return with 28 Years Later, a film that reflects the world post-COVID and Brexit more than it revisits its own cinematic past.

While 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007) captured tight-knit horror, 28 Years Later is an eclectic mix of apocalyptic storytelling, father-son drama, and frenzied direction — sometimes at odds with itself.

 The Infection Endures

The rage virus still plagues the UK, now fully quarantined from the rest of Europe. Survivors have taken to the outskirts, notably Holy Island, where 12-year-old Spike (newcomer Alfie Williams) and his grizzled father Jamie (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) hunt and survive using rudimentary tools and archery — medieval survivalism meets modern infection.

Despite the presence of the undead, some of the film’s best tension comes from the psychological unraveling of Spike’s family. His mother Isla (played by Jodie Comer) is bedridden and slipping into delusion, often confusing her son for her husband.

 Boyle’s Experimental Chaos

Boyle pushes the limits of guerrilla filmmaking by shooting much of 28 Years Later on iPhones. The result? Raw, frantic, and frequently disorienting. Some may find the aesthetic immersive; others may call it a narrative mess.

The camerawork echoes the mental and physical fragmentation of a society severed from itself — much like post-Brexit Britain. That fractured feel, however, might come at the cost of storytelling clarity.

 Characters on the Edge

As Spike leaves the island in search of a mysterious doctor (played by Ralph Fiennes, unrecognizably sunburnt), we’re introduced to other bizarre characters, including a stranded NATO soldier (Edvin Ryding) and infected humans nicknamed “Slow-Lows”, who crawl around more like earthworms than Olympic sprinters.

There are compelling themes in the mix — toxic masculinity, generational trauma, and mortality — but they get muddled in the tonal chaos.

 A Gory Coming-of-Age Tale

Beneath the spinal-ripping violence and jolting cinematography, there’s a surprisingly tender narrative: a boy’s journey toward independence and emotional clarity in a world gone mad.

For all its uneven storytelling, 28 Years Later isn’t a lazy sequel. Boyle still swings for the fences, determined to keep his franchise thoughtful, visceral, and purposefully untidy.

Final Verdict

Rated R for its intense violence, graphic nudity, and grisly imagery, 28 Years Later clocks in at 115 minutes of dystopian mayhem. With “28 Days Later: The Bone Temple” already completed and set to release next year, it’s clear this universe isn’t closing the book on infection just yet.

Rating: ★★☆☆ (2 out of 4 stars)

 28 Years Later Showtimes & Release Info

• 28 Years Later Release Date: Now playing in theaters nationwide.
  
• Check local listings for 28 Years Later showtimes.
  

Source: AP News