Danny Boyle surprises us with intensive coming-of-age horror, which develops in a completely unpredictable direction.
How long is the half -life of zombies? Thanks to Danny Boyle, we now know that it must be at least 28 years, because after this long period of time he takes up his horror narrative again (and after all, in the real world since the theatrical release of “28 Weeks Later” for 18 years).
Scene from “28 Years Later”
On the way with an arrow and bow
There has always been an angry citizen, but the rage virus increases the aggressiveness of all affected people immeasurable. “28 Years Later” moves us into a world in which the virus still rages. The new location is initially a small enclave on an island off the north -east English coast, where people have found refuge for years. The daring Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), accompanied by his 12-year-old son Spike (Alfie Williams) with arrow and bow, moves out into the unknown to fulfill a certain mission. Only one thing is certain on the mainland: that you are expected to be torn or bitten into pieces if you cannot effectively defend yourself.
Scene from “28 Years Later”
Imaginative mutations
Boyle and his brilliant screenwriter Alex Garland have come up with a lot to show the consequences of the long -lasting disaster on people living together. The virus victims have also developed and passed through different mutations: While some of them like new Neanderthals and stumble around aimlessly, others wind with the scope of sumoringers such as grotesque worms over the ground and, fittingly, mainly feed on earthworms. The so-called alphas are finally at the top of the mutation chain-with bodybuilder dimensions and berserk forces they are like Conan zombies on stereoids and even have a significantly higher IQ.
Scene from “28 Years Later”
A story full of original turns
The plot does not appear very original at first and has something interchangeable itself: a capsized group of survivors, the relapse to a pre -tech world, the silent stripes through the field and forest with archaic weapons, while a hardly human predator can lurk behind each bush. One should believe that such stories have already been told in various other films in a very similar way – and “The Walking Dead” did not leave us without a trace.
But what starts as a typical father-son end-time story soon develops in a completely different direction, and Danny Boyle leaves the rules of the genre far behind in his intensive coming-of-age horror to keep up with our expectations. Also thanks to a suggestive assembly technology, which creates unforgettable image and sound sequences, especially in the first third, he is at the height of his art. On top of that, he shows a very dark humor – right from the start, the teletubbies frolic over a television screen, while the child's spectators are dissolved in tears or rigid with horror and with happy music everything takes a bloody turn.
Scene from “28 Years Later”
Ralph Fiennes does bone work
Not only growing under the most difficult conditions is the focus here, but also dealing with illness and loss. Therefore, the most impressive moments have nothing to do with typical zombie horror, but take part in a nightly silence when a doctor in the form of Ralph Fiennes makes a diagnosis. We have to wait a long time for this star and when he finally appears, we will be surprised because we have made a very wrong picture of the figure from previous hints. Nevertheless, it is a very strange character: Like the upper priest of a bone cult, he puses the skull into pyramids and is otherwise quite artistic with the bones. Anyone who is wondering why he takes these efforts will receive a Latin mindset from the man educated.
Scene from “28 Years Later”
The next part is already in sight
And after we have recently survived a pandemic, you can see the topic even more with different eyes. Corona was probably also an important reason, which is why this long postponed film project could finally be realized. Yes, more even: With “28 Years Later” we can expect a real trilogy.
Earlier figures, which are known from this film series, no longer appear here, but at least the chances are good that Cillian Murphy will actually stop by in the coming part. At the beginning of 2026 – 6 Months Later – it should continue with “The Bone Temple”, and it remains to be hoped that the continuation under Nia Dacosta Direction is at least almost as good as this current film; But what is difficult to imagine, because Boyle reaches the level of zombie father Romero at its best times.
4 ½ out of 5 human skulls, on the necks of which the spine still dangles