28 Years Later review: Another relentless apocalyptic horror from Danny Boyle

BreakingNews.ie

4 hours ago

Danny Boyle
and
Alex Garland
have produced another horror masterpiece with
28 Years Later
, the third instalment in the '28 Days' universe.
The director and writer were not heavily involved in the followup, '28 Weeks Later', but they make a triumphant return in the new film.
It is partly shot on iPhones, something introduced by Boyle with 28 Days later, and this contributes to the frantic and anxiety-inducing pace of the film as our new protagonisted go up against the infected.
Advertisement
This includes new additions to the creatures that were produced about the rage virus, including the terrifying 'alphas' who are able to effortlessly rip people's heads off.
While the film is full of the action we saw in its two predecessors, Boyle and Garland manage to include a commentary on British society.
With the rest of the world operating as normal as the 21st century rages on, Britain is quarantined to keep the infected from reaching the rest of the world, with navies patrolling its waters.
In a remote island, survivors life a primitive but peaceful and safe existence, accessible to the foreboding 'mainland' only by a causeway only accessible when the tide recedes.
Advertisement
With Britain stuck in the past, it's hard to avoid the intended Brexit parable.
This is only accentuated by Boyle's use of black and white World War footage, and a haunting score which includes
1903 poem "
Boots
" by
Rudyard Kipling
, recited by American actor
Taylor Holmes.
Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) brings his 12-year-old son Spike (Alfie Williams) to the mainland to get his first kills in an almost ritualistic expedition, against the advice of the communiy's elders who warn that Spike is far too young.
Ralph Fiennes in 28 Years Later.
The horrors they encounter leave a mark on father and son, but Spike is determined to return to seek a cure for his seriously ill mother Islan (
Jodie Comer
).
This is where we once again enconter Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). A key character in the first film, Dr Kelson steals the show once again.
His descent into madness, looking like Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse now, isn't quite what it seems, despite the temple of skulls he has amassed.
The ending sets things up nicely for
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is due for release in January 2026.