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28 Years Later is the hardest film to label in this iconic series, and perhaps the one I'm still thinking about. It's the kind of film I feel I need to see again to fully absorb. It's more meditative, stranger, and at times even funny. The infected are still terrifying, but there's a surprising variety to them this time around. More than anything, this is a story about community and adaptation-how life, both human and otherwise, finds a way. In many ways, it plays as much like a road trip drama as it does a horror film.

The final third is exceptional, with Ralph Fiennes delivering one of the finest performances of his career. He plays an aging man who has adapted to the new world, building a quiet life in isolation, bearing witness to what remains, and honoring the dead. It's a tender, layered role that deserves awards recognition-though, as we know, horror rarely gets that kind of attention.

He's not alone. Young Alfie Williams is wonderful as Spike, the protagonist and emotional center of the film. Jodie Comer delivers a multifaceted performance as his afflicted mother-warm, fierce, confused, and deeply human. Aaron Taylor-Johnson rounds out the central trio as the father, a man hardened by reality but committed to preparing his son for the world ahead.

This film didn't just meet my expectations-it surprised me. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland are at the top of their game, delivering razor-sharp world-building, a thoughtful script, and rich, well-defined characters. There's plenty of gore, brutality, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, but the horror here feels atmospheric-woven into the air the characters breathe rather than being the point of it all. That said, there are still moments that are genuinely scary and things we've never seen before in this series.

Visually, it's stunning. Shot in the Scottish Highlands, the film uses the region's wild beauty-its woods, seas, islands, and hills-to full effect. It's easily the best-looking film in the trilogy. While 28 Days Later remains a genre-defining masterpiece, its early digital cinematography hasn't aged well. This entry, also shot digitally, looks crisp and cinematic-proof of how far the medium has come. It's also the funniest of the three, and that humor is welcome. It gives us a moment to breathe amid the film's darker themes, offering much-needed respite without undercutting the stakes.

I'm glad this is only the beginning of a planned new trilogy. The world they've crafted here is rich and layered, and it deserves further exploration. And with such a strong start, I'm excited to see what comes next.

This movie is a peculiar take on the 'one long, challenging day/evening' narrative, where the protagonist races against time to reach her destination or face dire consequences. Sarah, our protagonist, embodies the traits of the Naga (female camel): strong, proud, yet also spiteful and vengeful, unwilling to forgive any offense. Newcomer Adwa Bader shines in portraying Sarah, skillfully bringing out her multifaceted personality. Bader fearlessly embodies an unlikeable and flawed character with a bad temperament, unafraid to attack or lash out, making it challenging to sympathize with Sarah. However, I found myself remarkably invested in her well-being, largely due to Bader's bold performance.

The film boasts commendable cinematography and production values, showcasing assured direction. However, director Meshal Al Jaser's debut feature tends to throw on screen everything under the kitchen sink, making it feel slightly indulgent and overstuffed. Yet, these cinematic flares find some justification as they reflect the protagonist's state of hallucination, panic, and disorientation, cleverly maintained by the director's camera and editing tricks.

Despite these strengths, I hold a grudge against the film for its promise of a story about a vengeful, demented camel chasing our heroine. While the movie offers glimpses of this aspect, it falls short of delivering as much as expected. The mismatch between the advertised premise and the actual depiction left me slightly disappointed and annoyed. Nonetheless, the film still centers around a spiteful camel, so yes it's misleading, but the title Naga is still apt. It's a good movie that reflects a paradigm shift in Saudi cinema, and I am here for it.

Consider my mind blown! Yes movie, you lived to my expectations, but you also broke my heart. That said, Cruise and company delivered. This was my most anticipated movie of the year, and it didn't, I rebeat, it didn't disappoint. 2hr45min of non-stop breathtaking action with not a single dull moment. Hayley Atwell is the MVP of the movie (aside from the man himself, of course). Now Dead Reckoning part 2 is my most anticipated movie ot 2024 (that if they didn't delay it), but until then, I will be happy to see this one again, and hopefully on the big screen. Thanks for a great time, movies are truly back this summer.