28 Years Later

28 Years Later
Starring Alfie Williams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes
Directed by Danny Boyle

In the 2000s and 2010s, the zombie genre was at its height. There was zombie comedies, zombie romances, zombie action, zombie horror, and zombie television shows. Everyone knew the rules: the zombies are slow, they can only be killed with a hit to the brain, and once you're bitten you'll turn into one of them. "Trainspotting" director Danny Boyle turned that on its head with "28 Days Later," a falsely-considered zombie movie that's really about the rage inside all of us, and the horrors that would occur if that rage went unchecked. The Rage Virus is introduced, turning normal people into ravaging, fast-running creatures hell bent on killing anyone they come into contact with, and even if someone gets a drop of infected blood into their system, they'll turn in seconds. It was revolutionary, shot in a guerrilla-style fashion with shaky cam but not found footage, and introduced the world to the talents of future Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy and Oscar-nominee Naomie Harris. In 2007, "28 Weeks Later" came out, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, and featured the same filming style as the original if not a bit more polished. After these two successful films fans pined for "28 Months Later," but it never came to fruition. After over twenty years fans gave up hope on ever seeing another "28 Later" film, but then Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland came together again and produced "28 Years Later," and proved that age hasn't changed their talent, giving what easily is the best of the franchise yet, filled with all the horror you'd expect but also a heartwarming non-zombie coming-of-age film.

Twenty-eight years after the Rage Virus decimated Great Britain, the entirety of the island is under permanent quarantine, with people surviving on their own. A community has flourished on the small island of Lindisfarne, where the only way to reach the mainland is one natural bridge that gets flooded at high tide. The community is rustic and primitive, but the people are happy and healthy, having their own customs, religion, and society.  Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is a scavenger with an ailing wife Isla (Jodie Comer) and twelve-year-old son Spike (Alfie Williams) that he's been training to fight. He finally decides Spike is ready and they head to the mainland for Spike to encounter the horrors and prove himself a fighter, and they come into contact with differing types of virus-filled people, and something Spike didn't expect to see - a fire in the distance. Heading back home, Spike questions as to what the fire belonged to, and learns it belongs to Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), the only doctor around, and is determined to find a cure for his ailing mother. So he takes her to the mainland to find the doctor, and along the way they run into friends and foes alike, as Spike himself grows into the warrior he's destined to be.

Danny Boyle and company have gifted cinema-goers with the most unique horror trilogy (so far, as "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" will be released in January 2026) out there - three films that have little or nothing to do with one another, shot in different styles, and centers around different aspects of living in a virus-led end-of-the-world scenario. "Days" shows the initial outbreak of the virus and how ultimately we need to be more worried about or fellow man; "Weeks" shows that not even the safest of quarantines is enough to contain certain viruses; "Years" proves that society can still survive despite insurmountable odds as long as we work together. It's fascinating and unique, with each film shot differently ("Days" utilized the Canon XL-digital camera; "Weeks" used handheld cameras with innovative digital editing; "Years" surprisingly used the iPhone 15 Max smartphones) and focusing on different groups who want to survive. "Years" stands out for many reasons, one of which is less focus on the infected and more on the journey our heroes take. Back in 2021, "The Green Knight" was released and served as a cinematic version of the classic novel, and featured a man making his hero's journey while running into unique people along the way. Here, we get another sort of hero's journey as Spike embarks on a perilous journey to save his mother, running into all sorts of dangers and allies, and grows because of it.

That's not to say "Years" is without horror; in fact, the whole movie is filled with tension, as you never know when something is going to happen next. The opening alone is filled with blood-soaked violence and rivals that of the excellent opening scene from "Weeks," and it only continues from there. Boyle and Garland changed the game by introducing new types of rage-infected people to keep things fresh and terrifying, which need to be seen to be fully appreciated. The majority of the infected are still fast, but there's others that are even more dangerous, amping up the tension.

Yet the heart of the film is a coming-of-age tale with Spike, played amazingly by young newcomer Alfie Williams. Generally kids in these movies make the biggest mistakes that cause the greatest harm (look no further than "Weeks"), but here Spike is wise beyond his years, even if he's still frightened by the world that he encounters. When he goes with his father, he is self-assured but it dissipates quickly when the infected attack, but his love for his mother is so strong he faces his fear again to bring her to the mainland to make herself better. He grows up quickly, and you see his transformation in real time. It's harrowing and fascinating, and the weight of the film is held on the young actor's shoulders.

Jodie Comer also excels as Isla, Spike's mother who has an unknown illness that causes her to hallucinate and become weak, which is a huge crutch for Spike when he takes her to the mainland. It adds to the tension, and Comer proves herself again as a great actress. Likewise, Aaron Taylor-Johnson does great as the no-nonsense scavenger and Ralph Fiennes electrifies the screen as the quirky doctor who offers sage advice and comfort when needed. Everyone involved in the acting side of things are excellent, and you'd expect nothing less.

Showing a world ravaged by a deadly virus is what made "Days" and "Weeks" so iconic, but in "Years" the movie shifts from the larger devastation and centers on a family's journey of discovery, empowerment, and health. Accompanied by great performances, the film's use of iPhone 15 Max and fast-paced editing keeps the suspense high, and you'd expect to feel fear, excitement and dread, but "28 Years Later" also makes you feel sadness, melancholy, and leaves you thinking about the impact of life, death, and how we see both.

The Score: A+