Hi all! 

Today I am reviewing new-release, horror: 28 Years Later. It hit cinemas this month, allowing me the opportunity of seeing it on the big screen. It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped from a biological weapons laboratory. Still living in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amid the infected. One such group of survivors, live on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When one of them decides to venture into the dark heart of the mainland, he soon discovers a mutation that has spread not only to the infected, but other survivors as well. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

WHAT WORKED:

28 Years Later took me by complete surprise. I wasn’t expecting such an epic journey film that felt akin to Lord of the Rings, The Witcher and even Game of Thrones. Shot in Northumberland, the cinematography was positively breathtaking. All types of ground were covered, from coastal beaches to lush forests, to heavenly fields. There was a lot of love and care put into this movie. Furthermore, I have to commend the brilliant performances from Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron-Taylor Johnson. The child who played Spike was excellent too. There were moments of true terror, laugh-out-loud silliness and sudden heartbreak. I experienced a wide range of emotions. What fascinated me most however, were the zombies. They maintained the same frenzy and speed from the original franchise but were more primitive in appearance. There were different classifications and mutations as well. I also appreciated the amount of gore featured. It was definitely heavier on the violence, over the scares. There is a lot more to come and they are just getting started. It was great to see Danny Boyle back in the director’s seat, after giving us 28 Days Later over two decades ago.  

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

There wasn’t a whole lot to fault about this film, except that it was a little all over the place. At one point, it focused on an entirely different story, before quickly switching back to the main plotline. It felt random and out of place for no reason. Moreover, some of the artistic choices implemented won’t work for everybody but I enjoyed them. It certainly took risks, straying out of the ordinary. I am referring to the music used, some of the modern references mentioned and the costuming. It’s really up to personal preference whether these risks paid off or not. 

OVERALL STAR RATING:

I gave it 4/5 stars. A pleasant surprise! 

Have you seen 28 Years Later? What did you think of it?

Peace & Love xoxo