28 Years Later: The First Hour Is a Masterpiece, Then It All Goes Wrong

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Twenty long years have passed since the last movie in the series, and now, “28 Years Later” sets sail on a new trilogy’s journey. As a passionate cinephile, I couldn’t help but share my initial thoughts after stepping out of the theater – visually and audibly, this film is a masterpiece, boasting stunning cinematography, convincing acting, and dazzling special effects. However, it’s the storyline that leaves much to be desired.

The Good First Hour

The initial hour is fantastic, scoring a perfect 10/10. This powerfully crafted tale revolves around the bond between a father and his son, surviving in the Scottish Highlands. The storyline cleverly places the island residents away from contamination. Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), his ailing spouse Isla (Jodie Comer), and their child Spike (Alfie Williams) are captivating characters. The boy’s experience, which includes slaying his first infected creature, is portrayed convincingly well.

Then It Goes Off the Rails

Following an auspicious beginning, events take a turn for the worse. On the very evening that they were celebrating their son’s significant achievement, Jamie betrays his ailing spouse by committing infidelity. Spike discovers this transgression, becomes intoxicated, and from that moment on, everything begins to fall apart.

He argues with his father, threatens him with a knife, and later decides to transport his critically ill mother (who barely moves) to a questionable doctor (Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson), who is located in a territory overrun by zombies. His supposedly smart idea involves creating a diversion using fire and carrying his infected mother across the mainland. During this journey, she gives birth to a zombie child, assisted by a Swedish navy member who was the sole survivor of a plane crash. Things become quite unusual.

Dr. Kelson’s House of Skulls

In this peculiar setting, Kelson resides where there are towering structures made of bones and pyramids fashioned from skulls. He detects cancer in Isla by inspecting her underarms and chest, and she acknowledges that she was aware of it already. Later, Kelson sedates Alfie just enough so he continues to cradle the baby. Later on, Kelson provides the child with his mother’s skull to be placed atop a pile of bones – quite an unusual movie indeed.

The Ending Is a Joke

On the island, Jamie, now without purpose, determines to pursue his son, but the ebb of the tide obstructs his route. Alfie deposits the infant at the gate with a message and returns to the mainland. Suddenly, an unexpected group of hip-hop survivors appears, much like in Shaun of the Dead, clearing a path through the infected and enlisting Alfie. The mood shifts dramatically.

The Verdict

Initially, the movie is quite engaging for an hour. However, as it progresses, it takes an unexpected turn. The father character transforms into a failure (a stereotype of alpha males not being ideal), the son becomes overly reliant on his mother, there’s an unnecessary plot point about assisted suicide, and the storyline deteriorates rapidly. Despite the film’s polished appearance, there are many problematic elements hidden beneath the surface that make it more than just a zombie thriller – most of which are negative. In the end, 28 Years Later turns out to be quite disappointing.

28 Years Later gets a 4/10.

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2025-06-20 07:31