“28 Years Later” Brings Series Back With Plenty of Scares and Emotion

It’s been almost three decades since the Rage virus escaped from a biological weapons laboratory. Still living in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist among the infected.

One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway.

When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

As soon as I started seeing the trailers for “28 Years Later”, I began to get really excited. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two films and, like most other fans, have been eagerly waiting for a third film of the series. While I did enjoy “28 Years Later,” there were a couple small things I was a little mixed about.

“28 Years Later” delivers quite a few eerie moments and does a great job recapturing the atmosphere and intensity of the first film. This long awaited follow up also does a fairly decent job exploring how human nature and society in general has thrived in this post-apocalyptic setting.

In the first half of the film, it focuses on how established communities and family structures are tested during the still ongoing epidemic. We also get to see how remnants of the old world - such as traditions, history and memories - can become corrupted or even distorted over time.

“28 Years Later” also gives us a good amount of mystery and suspense, especially when we’re finally introduced to Ralph Fiennes’ character, Dr. Kelson. This character is somewhat grounded despite the chaotic world and has a unique understanding of the infected and  a really somewhat unsettling behavior. And, of course, Ralph Fiennes knocks it out of the park!

This film also provides an unusual take of a coming of age story that focuses on a young character (Spike, who is more of a main character) in a world ravaged by the Rage virus. It explores how some children (and Spike) learn to survive, adapt and make difficult

choices in a new world that demands they be older and wiser than their years.

The Spike/Isla subplot that’s featured in the film adds a really unexpected and emotional element that I really didn’t see coming. This part of the story comes into play when Spike wants to find a doctor for his ill mother and the film actually gives this portion of the story a lot of focus.

I’ve actually read online that some viewers and fans really didn’t necessarily enjoy the tonal shifts of this film, as it can go from horror to drama and back to horror. And, honestly, I thought the blend of horror and drama for this sequel is fine. Sure, it does focus more on the drama at times, yet it still makes the film really compelling. There are also plenty of moments during the horror moments of the film where it can get pretty bloody.

While I did enjoy most of the film, I really am mixed about the film’s ending (which I won’t be going into spoiler territory). This film’s ending does lead into a fourth film, which is actually already filmed and set for a January 2026 release. I will say that this ending is a somewhat bold and kind of intriguing set up for the next installment. Yet, it also does feel really out of place. 

Just like both “28 Days Later” and “28 Weeks Later,” this isn’t a film for everyone and will provoke strong reactions from the fans. While the ending does feel out of place, I’ll still keep an open mind with the upcoming fourth film!

Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Jamie); Jodie Comer (Isla); Alfie Williams (Spike); Ralph Fiennes (Dr. Ian Kelson); Edvin Ryding (Erik Sundqvist); Amy Cameron (Rosey); Stella Gonet (Jenny); Christopher Fulford (Sam); Chi-Lewis Perry (“Samson”).

Writer/director: Alex Garland (writer) (Warfare; Civil War; Men); Danny Boyle (director) (Yesterday; T2: Trainspotting).

Trivia: The movie was primarily shot using an iPhone 15 Pro Max, which makes this movie the biggest feature length movie to be shot on a smartphone. The first trailer for the movie received 60 million online views within the first 24 hours.

A third movie has been in and out of development for years. One of the main reasons why a third movie has been stalled has really come down to rights issues. The next installment, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” is currently slated for a January 2026 release.

MPA: Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, graphic nudity, language and brief sexuality   (runtime 115 minutes).

Don’t forget to make sure to keep on checking my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook to see what I am working on next! And speaking of what I’m working on next, here is what I have planned for the 7/9 edition: “F1: The Movie,” “The Great Outdoors” (summer comedy throwback); “Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie” (a documentary being featured during the Summer Film Festival); “Superman/Superman II” (leading up to the new “Superman”) and a revisit of the “Jurassic Park” trilogy (leading up to “Jurassic World: Rebirth”).

• The trailer features a distinctive recording of the poem 'Boots' by Rudyard Kipling, read by the actor Taylor Holmes in 1915. The poem's repetitive rhythm imagines the march of British soldiers during the Boer War, and this recording of the poem is used by the US military to simulate the psychological distress of being held captive.

• The film was primarily shot using an iPhone 15 Pro Max, which makes this film the biggest feature length movie to be shot on a smartphone.

• During the scene when Jamie takes Spike out to the mainland for the first time, black and white footage from 28 Weeks Later (2007) is shown among the other archive footage.

• Originally, the follow-up was set to be titled "28 Months Later", continuing with the movie's timeline-set title motif. However, after so much time had passed since visiting this world in 2007 (28 Weeks Later (2007)), it was deemed more appropriate to name the film "28 Years Later".

• After the release of 28 Weeks Later (2007), producer/writer Danny Boyle stated that a third movie in the series had been mapped out, with the proposed working title '28 Months Later', but writer Alex Garland said in 2010 that "when we made 28 Days Later (2002), the rights were frozen between a group of people who no longer talk to one another. And so, the film will never happen unless those people start talking to each other once again. There is no script as far as I'm aware." After little progress over the years, Boyle and Garland finally announced in 2019 that they were both working on the project again, confirming in 2023 that it was ready to enter production. The film was finally able to gain traction in 2024 when producer Andrew Macdonald managed to buy the rights to the first film back from Searchlight Pictures, which he then sold to Sony Pictures under the condition they agreed to fund the sequels. Although Boyle gave Garland the choice to direct, the latter indicated that he wanted to focus on writing after directing Civil War (2024) and Warfare (2025) nearly back-to-back.

• The first trailer received 60 million online views within the first 24 hours.

• While the first two films were released under Fox Searchlight Pictures, the rights of the film have since reverted to the filmmakers, who have auctioned off distribution rights to Columbia Pictures.