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28 Years Later Review – Terrifyingly Weird

Teletubbies, giants, a crazy bright orange man (who, for some reason, is giving John Locke from Lost), kill-cam style shots, Power Rangers, Train to Busan inspired sequences, Mortal Kombat spine rips, and… Jimmy Savile???? Don’t ask. Just know that the vibes are weird and crazy – and that’s exactly what makes it so good. From the very beginning you just know that 28 Years Later is going to feel like a fever dream. And somehow, it all makes perfect sense in the most unsettling way. If you’re wondering what kind of trip you’re in for, the intro sets the tone: weird, deeply British (don’t ask), and very much not okay.

But beyond the bizarre, 28 Years Later delivers something terrifyingly real: the Rage Virus is back, and it’s evolved. Back faster and stronger than ever, with zombies that will haunt your dreams, this isn’t just another zombie sequel – it’s the beginning of a brand new trilogy, taking the foundations of 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later and launching them into a bigger, stranger, even more terrifying direction.

28 Years Later: Rage, Reinvented

28 years later

Set 28 years after the original outbreak, the world is still a shambles. The Rage virus is back, faster and freakier than ever, and no one is safe. Everything is even more terrifying this time around.

28 Years Later picks up decades after the outbreak that devastated Britain (twice), and now, a whole new generation is grappling with its legacy. We follow a young protagonist (mercifully likeable this time – sorry, not sorry, Tammy and Andy) caught in the middle of the chaos. There’s mystery, survival, and just enough horror. And while the plot is relatively straightforward, the execution is anything but – jump cuts, surreal imagery, and sharp tonal shifts give you constant emotional whiplash, in a way that weirdly works.


28 Years Later: Cinematography, Score, and What British Horror Does Best

This film looks phenomenal. The cinematography is truly top-tier – bleak, beautiful, and brutal all at once. There are these haunting shots of the infected that make your skin crawl. And when they move? It’s not just fast. It’s savage. It feels like there’s no surviving this version of Rage unless you get lucky.

The score? Absolutely delivers. Yes, we all miss In the House – In a Heartbeat (how could we not?), but the music here still holds its own. It’s atmospheric in that way where your stomach drops and you’re not sure why. It creeps under your skin and stays there. It’s less iconic maybe, but still perfect for the nightmare on screen.


A New Chapter Begins – But It’s Just the Start

28 Years Later doesn’t close a story – it opens a door. The film ends on a note so wild and unresolved that it practically demands more. And more is coming. Cillian Murphy will be returning, stepping back into this broken world with secrets and scars that only he can carry. This film is the first part of a new trilogy, weaving threads from the past while pulling you deeper into an unknown, darker future. If you thought you knew this universe, think again. The rage is far from over – it’s just beginning.


28 Years Later Cast: Humanity’s Last (Terrifyingly Flawed) Hope

The acting in 28 Years Later is ridiculously good. Everyone brings their A-game – from the exhausted survivors to the quietly unhinged figures who might be worse than the infected. There’s real emotion here, and it sells the chaos. But, as is tradition with this franchise, the biggest threat isn’t the zombies.

It’s men.

You’ll know what I mean when you watch. And 28 Years Later understands something most zombie flicks forget: womanhood is not just resilience, it’s evolution. And no, I will not elaborate.

Anyways, here’s the cast that really bring the film to life:

  • Alfie Williams as Spike – The 12-year-old heart of the story, Spike is a survivor you actually root for. No annoying kid vibes here, just grit and courage in the apocalypse.
  • Jodie Comer as Isla – Spike’s mother, suffering from an illness while the world burns around her. Comer brings a haunting, heartbreaking depth to a role that’s as tough as it is emotional.
  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson as JamieA rugged survivor and father to Spike, Jamie is a man shaped by trauma and survival instincts.
  • Ralph Fiennes as Kelson – This doctor is one of the most complex characters you’ll meet – part healer, part mystery, and 100% unsettling. Fiennes owns the screen with a mix of compassion and something just… off.
  • Edvin Ryding and Jack O’Connell also deliver amazing performances!

The performances are incredible, elevating the already wild story into something unforgettable.

Editor’s Note from Emma: I haven’t even seen 28 Years Later yet and I already feel like I’ve been through something. Teletubbies? Mortal Kombat spine rips? Jodie Comer in the apocalypse?? Jasmine’s review has me convinced this movie is absolutely unhinged – and I cannot wait. Inject the chaos directly into my eyeballs. Also… no In the House – In a Heartbeat? 🥲 The emotional damage.


More Zombie Chaos You’ll Want to Sink Your Teeth Into

Still craving that grim, unrelenting apocalypse energy? Check out these:

  • 28 Days Later – The one that started it all, and still unmatched for dread and raw panic.
  • 28 Weeks Later – The messy middle child, but come on… those helicopter scenes? Iconic.
  • Children of Men – Not zombies, but vibes. Trust me.
  • The Girl with All the Gifts – A smarter take on the infected. Don’t sleep on this one.
  • The Last of Us (TV series) – If you like your horror slow-burn and emotionally devastating.

People Also Ask About 28 Years Later

Is 28 Years Later a sequel to 28 Weeks Later?

Yes – but it also kind of reboots the story for a new generation. Think of it as the beginning of a new trilogy. It acknowledges the past, but it’s forging a new (nightmarish) path.

Are the zombies different in 28 Years Later?

Oh, you bet. Faster, meaner, and genuinely terrifying. These things don’t stop, and the cinematography makes them feel feral.

Why is it called 28 Years Later?

Because time keeps moving… but so does the virus. And after 28 years, the world still hasn’t healed. In fact, things might be even worse.

Is 28 Years Later as good as 28 Days Later?

That’s up for debate. It doesn’t replace it – but it doesn’t try to. It expands the universe with style, substance, and more chaos than you’re ready for.


Wrapping Up 28 Years Later

So, is 28 Years Later the sequel we’ve been waiting for? Yes – and then some. It’s unsettling, unpredictable, and absolutely refuses to let you relax. With stunning visuals, a chilling score, powerful performances, and more than a few “WTF” moments, it earns its place in the trilogy with bloody, frantic flair.

It’s horror that sticks with you – not just because of the zombies, but because of what they say about the world we live in. Or maybe it’s just the Teletubbies thing. Still not over that.


💥 Loved this chaotic trip through Rage?
Check out our other reviews for more undead mayhem, cult classics, and cinematic chaos – and don’t miss our full Letterboxd review for 28 Years Later, where we truly lose the plot (in the best way).

👉 Read More Reviews
👉 See Our Letterboxd Take

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