28 Years Later

I have to admit, after the opening scene of the film, my expectations went far below what it would for this series. After the explosive intro to 28 Weeks Later, which ended up being a middling film at the end, I expected much more of a bang at the beginning. I guess that is what they wanted though, to subvert your expectations and subvert them they did.

As a horror junkie, I thought I had seen almost everything this genre has to offer, particularly within the zombie genre. However, as the film progressed, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland did things that surprised even me. To my delight, this film ended up being a breath of fresh air.

Just when I thought the film was going in a certain macabre and disturbing, but familiar way, it finds a beating heart and shows that humanity is present even in the face of death. It touched me in a way that few films of this nature have and for that I applaud the creators.

I refuse to elaborate on the story or anything of that sort, because I feel it just needs to be experienced fresh and new in the mind. I will say the cast and crew do an amazing job, the acting is phenomenonal and the cinematography felt inventive and raw. It helps drive home the story the creator's intended to tell.

Overall, a fantastic sequel. Far above what it could've been had they just stuck to the formula. As I said previous, I applaud Danny Boyle and Alex Garland for doing something daring and for keeping it original and authentic. This one will probably go down as the best horror film of the year. I will definitely be in the theater for the next installments to see where they can take this disturbing, but hopeful story.

4.5 skulls out of 5.

Very different to anything in the previous two movies.

Some really good nods to the present Little England mentality, which would be lost outside of the UK. The crazy ending that is hilarious would also be lost if not familiar with the context.

So many subtle things that Boyle has included in here. The now felled sycamore gap tree being one. Any sense of distance with the cameos is artistic license.

The story is split into two halves and fans will prefer the first. There are some excellent scenes in there.

The Doctor is mad. A great character played by a superb actor.

I liked it and would watch parts again.

Totally bonkers!

I went into 28 Years Later genuinely looking forward to it, especially after hearing some of the glowing reviews. There were certainly flashes of what made the original films so memorable - a few tense, edge-of-your-seat moments and some solid action sequences. But as a whole, I found the story disappointingly uneven. The narrative felt clunky and at times weighed down by overly sentimental scenes that didn't quite land emotionally. It seemed unsure of what it wanted to be, and by the final act, it became clear that the film was less about telling a complete story and more about setting up whatever comes next. That left me feeling a bit short-changed. It's not without its strengths, but for a film I had high hopes for, it just didn't deliver.

This one will really divide the audience. Some will relish the stress inducing horror of the trip to the mainland, others will wonder if Alex Garland suffered a brain hemorrhage while he was writing the screenplay.

It looks pretty fantastic (strangely the colouring reminded me of Garland's Men) and, contrary to what a lot of reviews claim, the acting is solid, particularly from Jodie Comer and Alfie Williams. The mixing in of archive clips isn't a particularly groundbreaking move, but it's effective.

It's hard to define exactly what subgengre this film belongs to, but there are strong folk horror vibes throughout, and that plays well with the satirical edge to the film (what is it about zombie movies and satire?). As a political statement about 21st century British decline it isn't as over egged as I feared it might be- it's subtle to the point where I wonder whether it can be fully appreciated viewers who aren't familiar with our strange little island.

It's easily as tense and bloody as the other two films (although this one is rated 15 which shows you how times have changed). There are some genuinely tense moments throughout.

The ending. All I'll say is that however you imagine the last 5 minutes will go, you're wrong. If this is to be the first part of a trilogy, it's going to get batshit crazy (although again, anyone not familiar with British pop culture will not appreciate quite how bizarre the ending is).

As a huge fan of the first 2 films, it's pains me to say it but I found this really disappointing.

Should have guessed from the 15 certificate that it would lack the horror and the edge of the earlier films. I don't want to spoil the plot but there are 2 or 3 plot lines that really don't make sense. The ending I felt was particularly bad.

I get that the story is a very blunt metaphor for Brexit and the theme of rebirth (literally in one case) is very clear but just didn't gel or work as a story for me.

If you are looking for a continuance of the earlier, darker, scarier films I fear you may also leave the cinema disappointed.