“28 Years Later” is the newest installment of the 28 “measurement of time” franchise and the potential first film of a 28 Years Later trilogy.
Directed by Danny Boyle, who has directed the previous two films and has directed other works like “Trainspotting” and “127 Hours”, 28 Years Later is about the state of the British island and its inhabitants 28 years after a rabies-like virus infects the population.
The infected are completely hostile to anything that isn’t infected. The infection spreads through bites, and within 30 seconds, the virus controls the mind
Spike, a young boy, leaves his island’s safe haven, traveling to the rage-virus-infected mainland for a way to heal his ill mother.
The cast stars Alfie Williams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Williams and Ralph Fiennes. Alfie Williams does a great job portraying Spike, especially for a young actor.
Jodie Williams’ performance as Spike’s mother, Isla, is the greatest in the film. Williams does an amazing job illustrating the mental state of her character’s dissociation from reality.
Production-wise, the movie is gorgeous. Giant sprawling landscapes of the Scottish Highlands are wrapped in a blanket of warm lighting, vividly contrasting with the horrific world inside the quarantine.
During action sequences, the movie is shot very rapidly, much like that of “28 Days Later”. Shaky cam, close up and lightning-fast cuts are meant to show the insanity of the infection that has taken hold of the British Isles.
The only odd cinematography choice was whenever Spike or his father hits an infected with an arrow, the camera does this weird matrix-like motion. Truthfully, I don’t know what they were going for with it.
The editing, for the most part, was solid with some exceptions. Firstly at the start of the movie, they juxtapose footage of British soldiers during WWII and English archers from the Middle Ages.
While it adds to the atmosphere, there isn’t a great connection to the footage being shown and the overall plot.
It’s like they were in the editing room to decide what old footage to use as B-roll and were like “Oh, the characters are British, they use bows and they’re fighting…boom done!”
The WWII connections also seem less relevant because “28 Years Later” focuses less on politics than the previous two films.
While not completely absent of political meaning, the film’s themes are far more personal. It mainly focuses on loss and grief, as well as toxic masculinity.
*SPOILERS WARNING*
The greatest issue with the movie is that the driving force of the plot doesn’t make much sense.
Spike’s mom is extremely sick, experiencing delusions and memory loss. She is obviously terminally ill, and Spike takes her out of the sanctuary to take her to a person who might be a doctor or a psycho.
So Spike, a 12-year-old kid who only killed his first zombie the day prior, takes his mom into the zombie-infested inland despite her protesting.
Then they finally make it to the supposed doctor who luckily is an actual doctor. Then all he says is, “Yep, that’s brain cancer,” and then she dies.
I know that Spike is 12, but I feel like even a 12-year-old would recognize that at best all he could get her is a diagnosis and at worst, he and his mom would be zombie chow.
While nearly all the dialogue and performances are really well done and serve the story. It all falls apart because the plot has no purpose of occurring.
*SPOILER END*
“28 Years Later” is a fine film and everything you want out of a film set within the universe. The psychological horror of becoming infected, frantic chase scenes and the pure dread of the world these characters live in.
Even with the narrative shortcomings, “28 Years Later” is a welcome addition to this year’s endless stream of good horror movies.
Carter Cousino, staff writer/intern
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