Exploring Life & Death in 28 Years Later (2025): A Cinematic Masterpiece Review

Memento Mori. Danny Boyle strikes again but this time it’s a bullseye. The ‘zombie’ genre is a dying breed, pardon the pun, the genre has become mediocre and lacking creativity but I can confidently say this feature breathes life back into the genre. This is the ‘zombie’ film that will spark your interest again. 

28 Years Later (2025) was a nail biting, edge of the seat watching, unbelievable storytelling of life and death. 

The third in this trilogy takes us almost three decades into the future, where a remote community separated from mainland Britain are surviving and rebuilding. Boyle sets up character in the opening scene, watching a young boy escape the rage virus as his family are consumed then we time jump. In usual Danny Boyle fashion we are catapulted into a world, watching this film felt like a nightmare come to life. 

I was in awe of the realism, the attention to detail with character dynamics and survival instincts. 

When I use the word perfect, I don’t credit each film as being faultless but I do credit the ongoing and overarching narrative as intriguing, original and ultimately timeless. This trilogy is far from over, we have plenty more coming in the future to sink our teeth into but for now this series of films are exciting and inspiring. 28 Years Later (2025) is the strongest of the three and I cannot recommend it enough. 

Everything almost seems ok on the island until a young Spike is taken out on his first mission to the mainland with his father. The pair encounter infected in all forms - until spike questions his father and realises he his keeping secrets. 

28 Years Later (2025) will have you hanging onto every word, every moment, every breath. Boyle is able to give us humanity, humour and realism in the most absurd moments. 

The performances were all incredibly strong, everyone in the cast was unbelievably magnetic on screen. 

Ralph Fiennes’ performance was the epitome of human, I was in awe of his simplicity yet his strong force on screen. 

This feature had me cringing, jumping out of my seat, laughing and crying - it’s rare that a horror film is able to move you through so many emotions in one sitting. I was captivated by the story, its 

Overall, this film breathes life back into its genre. Despite those who are confused or appalled by the film’s ending, I was absolutely compelled by it. The final scene was a huge juxtaposition from the rest of the film, it launches you into a new approach to the subject matter and I was genuinely appreciative of the comedic aspects. This film is heavy, it’s emotional, it’s impactful and the ending was the cherry on top of all the madness and chaos. 

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have perfectly crafted a trilogy worth watching, the third instalment in this franchise is a spectacle, a memorable storytelling of life and inevitable death. 

Probe Points

★★★★☆