28 Years Later review: Danny Boyle proves third times a charm in this zombie follow-up
When '28 Days Later' came out in 2002, it shocked everyone about how someone could paint such a brutal canvas of what would happen if zombies took over the world. At that time, the zombie-horror genre was new, and Danny Boyle's film immediately catapulted in a direction that ushered in more filmmakers to explore this landscape.A follow-up to the massive success of '28 Days Later' was the 2007 film '28 Weeks Later'. A tad bit milder and not so effective as the prequel, the film felt like it was an exercise to draw ticket sales more than appeal to its loyal audience. But the wait for the third chapter is worthwhile as director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland bring us the tightest possible film in the franchise.This time around, the story revolves around a family, where Jamie (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson), his wife Isla (played by Jodie Comer), and their son Spike (played by Alife Williams) live on a remote island away from the virus that exterminated the population. As simple as it might sound, things change and take turns for the worse when Jamie realises that he needs to go to the mainland to find a cure for his ailing wife.advertisementAre there more survivors ? How are the living inhabitants on the mainland able to ward off the zombies and the virus ? There are many questions and subplots that make the film absolutely intriguing.
Watch the trailer for the film here: In a post-Covid world, a setting of this nature where a father and a husband try to find a cure for his ailing wife might feel eerily similar. A lot has changed in the world since the time of '28 Days Later' and the makers are aware of this. The second half especially is where we get to watch Boyle's brilliance.He doesn't approach horror as a straight linear genre but adds several subplots and elements to make it more difficult for the viewer to predict what's happening next. Visually it's on par with the first film. Despite the availability of CGI and VFX, Boyle creates more tension and fear in the scenes stripped of the technical wizardry.The performances are excellent, especially Johnson and Comer, who are both so good in the film. Ralph Fiennes pops up in the middle of the film, giving an iconic performance that picks pace and infuses some energy in the plot. Anthony Dod Mantle, the visionary behind the film's striking close-ups, reunites with Danny Boyle after their first collaboration. Together, they are in top form, delivering some truly spectacular and visually arresting moments.The only big grouse with the film is that it gets too caught up in its own premise at multiple junctures. Rather than keeping the ball rolling, it stops, pauses and tries to intellectualise certain sequences to no avail. While the zombie genre has been explored in both cinema and television tirelessly over the years, '28 Years Later' still feels fresh and exciting.If you enjoyed '28 Days Later' and wondered why we didn't get something as spectacular as the first film, then your wait is over. '28 Years Later' is a good time at the cinemas, and you won't regret it.4 out of 5 stars to '28 Years Later'
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