28 Years Later (2025)

28 Years Later picks up nearly three decades after the original outbreak, exploring a world still living under the shadow of rage and ruin.

Directed by Danny Boyle, returning to the series he started with 28 Days Later, the film feels both familiar and bold. His style is all over this with tight handheld shots, eerie quiet, and sudden chaos. The worldbuilding is the strongest it’s ever been, showing what long-term quarantine would do to society. It’s slower than the earlier films but more reflective, and when the violence hits, it hits hard.

Alfie Williams leads the film as a young man born into the aftermath of infection. With no major credits to his name before this, he makes a strong impression. There’s a naturalism to his performance that fits the grounded world of the film. He captures the sense of someone who has never known safety, only survival, and his quiet moments carry real weight. It’s a subdued but effective performance that keeps the story anchored.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson gives a solid supporting performance. He’s not flashy, but he plays the role with the right amount of weariness and paranoia. You believe he’s someone who has grown up with fear as a normal part of life. He’s not trying to outdo Cillian Murphy, just doing his own thing.

Jodie Comer, known for Killing Eve and Free Guy, is one of the standouts. She plays a survivor turned enforcer with cold precision but shows flickers of vulnerability at the right moments. Her screen presence is strong and she adds a lot of weight to the middle section.

It’s thought-provoking and moody with a super weird ending that will divide people. But it sticks to its themes and doesn’t sell out. Result: B

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