I was at university when 28 Days Later was released, and it was such a groundbreaking movie. I had never seen a zombie movie like it, and it would change the way zombie movies would be made over the next few decades. The sequel, 28 Weeks Later, which was made without series creator and writer, Alex Garland, and director Danny Boyle, was ok, but not as good as that first movie.
Where to Watch 28 Years Later
28 Years Later was released on June 20, 2025. A couple of months from this date you can expect to be able to stream the film from digital platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Apple TV.
The Movie Review
The Long-Awaited Return of Garland and Boyle
Well, it may have taken a very, very long time, but Alex Garland and Danny Boyle are back together again for 28 Years Later. This was easily one of my most anticipated movies of the year, so much so that I watched the first trailer and then I refused to watch or read anything else about the movie. I wanted to go into this as blind as possible!
Is 28 Weeks Later Canon Anymore?
Let me start by saying that this is a sequel to 28 Days Later. From what I could tell, the events of 28 Weeks Later are not canon here, and to be honest, the movie does not miss anything for that. I have heard some people say that they feel this is a retcon of the events of 28 Weeks Later, and I would certainly be in the camp that agrees with that, as there was some stuff that happened in 28 Weeks Later that is not mentioned here.
Who is the Real Star of 28 Years Later?
So, I only watched the initial trailer, but I came into this thinking that Aaron Taylor-Johnson was the lead, but that is not actually the case. The lead of this movie is the young actor, Alfie Williams, who is amazing in this role! It is not an exaggeration to say that he carries like 90 percent of this movie, and he does an amazing job. He plays the role of Spike. Spike is the son of Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Jamie and Jodie Comer’s Isla.
Exploring the Isolated UK in the Film
The UK has been sealed off from the rest of the world for the past 28 years to keep the rage virus contained. A small group of people live on an island just off the coast of the UK that is connected via a causeway that comes and goes with the tide. They have managed to survive and keep the infected at bay for all these years.
A Dangerous Coming-of-Age Ritual
Spike has come of age, and part of this is a ritual to go to the mainland and kill an infected. Over the past 28 years, the infected have evolved, sure some are still mindless, but there is a new type of infected, a smarter and more dangerous one that serves as an alpha.
Mission to the Mainland: What Drives the Plot
Isla has a bad illness, but there is a doctor on the mainland who Spike feels may be able to help, so he and Isla travel to the mainland and, as you would expect, things get out of hand pretty quickly.
Visual Style and Cinematography Choices
I just love the world that Alex Garland and Danny Boyle have created here, and I want to know so much more about it! There are some brutal and gruesome deaths in this movie that were awesome. However, while there were some really cool looking shots, like seeing things all red as if we were seeing through the eyes of an infected. There are some other strange looking shots too, and the movie, as it was shot on iPhone, does look different from what a movie you see in the theatre usually does.
The Ending That Left Everyone Talking
No spoilers, but the way the movie ends was very, very strange. It had a pretty big tonal shift, and I have to say, I am still not sure if I liked it or not. There were a few confused faces in my theatre due to how bizarre this ending was.
28 Years Later Is Just Part One
I knew coming into this that it was half a movie and that we had another part to come next year, but this was such a strange way to leave the audience hanging.
Final Thoughts: Was It Worth the Wait?
Was 28 Years Later worth the wait? For the most part, I would have to say that it was. This was a thrilling movie that was tense, gory, and had some great performances. However, there were a few, for lack of a better term, artsy-fartsy shots and the weird ending that did kind of bring it down a little bit to make it good instead of being great. Still, I am very intrigued to see where the next part of this goes.
