28 Years Later Review: A Fabulous Reintroduction!

The idea of living in a post-apocalyptic world is frightening in itself. However, what really creates a sense of unease and fear is the idea of never knowing when our world will collapse. The apocalypse infers a destruction of our world. But, that doesn’t only mean a physical destruction but a social and political destruction as well. Coming to terms with the world ending is an easier feat to rationalize than a complete destruction of order, rules, laws, and social norms. In this, we would have to decide how we will live in a completely different world and abandon all we have learned to live in an unknown era.

Related: Best Zombie Movies on OTT | Netflix, Amazon, Hotstar!

A common sub-genre of the post-apocalyptic genre are zombie films. Oftentimes these films bask in the terror of these undead “people” to create action and horror that chills us to the core. In 2002 with the release of 28 Days Later, Danny Boyle created a film that honed in on the bleak idea of living in a deserted world without human connection. With that, the franchise has expanded to emphasize this point rather than falling into the classic zombie tropes. 28 Years Later brings back Boyle directing and Alex Garland as screenwriter to bring audiences the best installment in the series yet, a deeply emotional and nihilistic look at who we and the world becomes when time stands still and we must decide what being human really means.

Spike (Alfie Williams), a twelve year old boy, living with his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and mother Isla (Jodie Comer) reside on an island off the northeast coast of England with a community of survivors of the Rage Virus that broke out for a second time 28 years earlier. With only one path to the dangerous mainland, inhabited by those infected over the years, to collect supplies and food when needed, Spike embarks on his first journey with his father in a “coming of age” celebration common in their community. With his mother experiencing an unknown illness and his father’s lack of investment in finding a cure for her, Spike’s curiosity with a mysterious doctor (Ralph Fiennes) on the mainland grows.

As the world outside of the island becomes clearer to him, Spike must chart his own course and learn the hardest of life lessons in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. Danny Boyle is known for using the latest technology in his 28 series and this time is no different. Through the use of IPhones hooked up to state of the art cinematic equipment, 28 Years Later is an experience and feat in filmmaking all its own. Especially in zombie and apocalypse films, a shaky camera technique is often used to mirror the chaos happening around its characters. However, Boyle utilizes sharp and chaotic editing with Jon Harris to create brisk sequences that make heads spin in the best way possible. Its film techniques feel fresh and new in a genre that often banks on images to induce anxiety. Yet, Boyle uses his own style to do just this, regardless of what is on screen.

Through Alex Garland’s script, 28 Years Later is a masterclass in world building through character interactions and tender moments of stillness and emotion that paints a clear picture of growing up in a world where the normalcy of the past was never in reach for Spike. Spike is displayed with a very narrow understanding of the world, given his upbringing only being in a world where the Rage Virus is rampant. In this, he is given understanding from his father Jamie who is able to keep his son aware of what he wants and in the dark on what he wishes to hide.

In this, Garland and Boyle are also able to build character relationships upon seeking truth and create a stronger bond with those willing to show Spike the reality of the world around him. This movie is a much more still and profound outlook on a society in the wake of its demise as well as how and if it can ever be fit back together. It allows its audience to grapple with a major idea as to what makes someone human and when humanity begins to dissipate. On a more literal level the disease plaguing those in the UK is causing them to lose their ability to think and feel as they become zombie-like creatures.

What Boyle and Garland are also able to display is how humans losing their empathy and souls is just as dangerous as becoming man-eating monsters. As hunting these creatures becomes a “sport” and a way to earn a badge of manhood, it becomes clear that the post-apocalyptic world Boyle and Garland have created touches on a loss of humanity, thus fueling the destruction of the world. With 28 Years Later being the first installment in a new trilogy, the setup allows its central concepts and ideas to pose greater psychological and political issues than just a blood soaked zombie film. With so much story left to unfold, 28 Years Later is a fabulous reintroduction to a cult horror film with incredible performances by the cast that will tug on audience’s hearts as much as it causes them to thump out of our chests.

‘28 Years Later’ Rating – 4/5