28 Years Later (2025)

Whether it was at the age of 10 when I discovered the idea of zombies through the OG Resident Evil games (and later, the atrocious movies), my brief obsession with The Walking Dead (I stopped watching not long after Carl was killed off), or only recently catching up with the 28 days films, I have come to one solid conclusion: I would not last long in a zombie apocalypse. 

There are too many factors to consider, but the main reason is that without the meds I normally take, I’m a goner. Nevertheless, the idea of a zombie apocalypse has been lodged in our society’s psyche since the days of George A. Romero. Now, director Danny Boyle (along with Alex Garland as a script writer) have come back to the universe they created in 2002, with 28 Years Later, the third in the series (both were absent for 28 Weeks Later).

This is, simply put, one of the most emotionally arresting zombie films I’ve ever seen (I still admit to needing to finish Train to Busan).

Like the second film, the events of previous entries don’t entirely relate to the present film (aside from the outbreak). As one may have guessed, the film takes place 28 years after the outbreak that first occurred in a primate research lab (although the prologue we see shows the outbreak transpiring as children watch a rather unsettling tv show in its own rights). In the present day, there is a colony of survivors that live on an island not far off the mainland. 

One of these survivors is Jaime (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who is set take his 12 year old son Spike (Alfie Williams) on his first trip to the main land as a right of passage, even though it is a bit early for him to do so (another character says he would normally wait until he is 14 or so). During the first third of the film, it is slowly discovered there may be more to the mysterious illness that is affecting Jaime’s wife Isla (Jodie Comer). The only hope that Spike has in helping his mom is a mysterious Doctor Kelson, who disappeared years ago.

Over the last month, I got around to catching up with the first two films in the series. I had some knowledge of what the first film may present (since the first episode of The Walking Dead had the same set up, albeit not before the film). I was rather surprised with the second film mainly because I did not expect it to take the route it did (I was expecting something more like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the second in the Matt Reeves’ trilogy). In this third film, the coming-of-age theme was thrown into the horror apocalyptic mix, blindsiding me in the process. It worked.

Comer and Taylor-Johnson are always reliable talents, as is the actor who plays Kelson (I won’t say who, but chances are you already know). Even so, there is no other way of putting it: this movie belongs to Alfie Williams. This is the type of screen debut that instigates discussion about the film. The film may not be for everyone (more on that in a minute), but it is simply not possible to deny this young talent. What a find.

Parents, in no way shape or form is this movie for any child. The R rating is clearly justified. I don’t remember much about the swearing (an F bomb or two I’m sure), but the violence is just so excessive it can’t be described. There is also a lot of (non sexual) nudity, especially male genitalia. Then there is the scene in the movie I never thought I would see in my life. That is not to say it is , but…well, when you see it, you will understand (it is the one on a train).

Even with all that ensues on screen (I admit some parts had me befuddled,) the film’s biggest surprise was the emotional impact. If you know me, you know that I don’t cry easily at movies, but the rather sparse list of films that do get my eyes moist just increased with this one. Any film, regardless of genre, that gets me close to tears is doing something right. This is the best movie of the year so far.

Overall: