28 Years Later
review by Bobby Blakey
In 2002 Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting director Danny Boyle teamed up with Ex Machina and Civil War director Alex Garland for the zombie flick 28 Days Later. With Boyle directing and Garland writing the two brought a different take to the undead genre with Cillian Murphy with the breakout lead to the chaotic film. The team sat out for the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later and despite the talks seemed like the franchise had come to an end. To great surprise, Boyle and Garland have reteamed finally for the third entry into the series 28 Years Later starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, Jack O’Connell, and Erin Kellyman.
28 Years Later follows a terrifying new story set in the world created by 28 Days Later. It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst 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 groups 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.
I love both of those first two films, but they are different films overall. The first film is a slow burn but still brings the tension and depth to the characters whereas the sequel offers up some of the same with a more action feeling injected. This next chapter looks to ignore the second film, at least as of now and play up the events of the first film to build this new world on. Kind of bummed
me out as I would have loved to see them continue some elements of it and of course they still could with follow ups coming but still loved this latest entry as it is.
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The interesting new direction here is focused on not only a community that has found a way to exist in this world, but the young people that were born into and know nothing else. I felt this adds a new dynamic for the development of the character navigating the world. The entire first act of the film is treated like a kids first deer hunt, but instead with the infected that are roaming. This right of passage not only builds out where the world is now but also introduces us to the characters and their way of life with some great tension and violence.
While I got annoyed with the decision making to the follow up journey that we all know is going to go horribly wrong, it makes sense and surprised me to how well it works. It is an interesting direction for the young boy and his two completely different journeys and how it makes him grow in numerous ways. The film builds on some great tense moments while feeling more like the original film in its depth of character development.
Everyone is great here, but it is Ralph Fiennes who stills the show for me. When he is finally revealed into the story, he steals the film with a perfect performance that is seemingly crazy, but truly empathetic and deep. It is a strange direction the film takes here, but also one that I can see numerous ways can push the story forward. I loved this film in all its violent glory but might lose some in the final sequence. The big twist to what you are lead to believe sets us up for the next in the series 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple that was shot back-to-back and hitting theaters in January.
Fair warning it has an abrupt cliffhanger ending that will likely annoy some viewers, but knowing the other film is already shot and for sure coming I was fine with it. This film has some issues with pacing and that final sequence that feels like a tone shift that some won’t like, but I will love this film and eager to see the next one and hopefully that final third planned film as well.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including featurettes taking you behind the franchise and bringing this next chapter to life. Grab your copy of 20 Years Later available now on digital and then on 4K Steelbook, Blu-ray and DVD on September 23rd from Sony Home Entertainment.
