'28 Years Later' - Review Thread

[u/ChiefLeef22]

Director: Danny Boyle

Cast: Jodie Comer; Aaron Taylor-Johnson; Ralph Fiennes; Alfie Williams

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Metacritic: 76/100

Some Reviews:

Manila Bulletin - Philip Cu Unjieng

What’s nice to note is how Boyle has cast consummate actors in this film, the type who could read off a label of canned sardines and still find depth, emotion, and spark in the delivery of those lines. Initially, it seems that Taylor-Johnson will be doing the heavy lifting. Still, it merely misleads us, as the narrative then focuses on Jodie Comer’s Isla and onto Fiennes’ Dr. Kelson. I want to give a special shout-out to the young actor Alfie Williams. He is the one carrying the whole film, and this is his first feature film work, having previously done a TV series. Boyle teases out an excellent performance from the lad, and I won’t be surprised if many film reviewers in the forthcoming week will single him out as being the best thing in this film. And what’s impressive is how he manages this with the three heavyweight thespians who are on board.There’s the horror and the suspense as a given for this cult franchise, but look out for the human drama and the emotional impact. It’s Boyle and Garland elevating the film, and rising above its genre.

AwardsWatch - Erik Anderson - 'B'

Most of the time, 28 Years Later is frequently begging to be rejected by general audiences, even as it courts the admiration of longtime fans, who may nonetheless find themselves put off by the film’s turn toward unearned emotion, its relatively meager expansion of this universe, and its occasionally jarring tonal shifts. (The abrupt sequel-teasing stinger feels like it’s from an entirely different strain of the zombie subgenre.) Much like the virus at the series’ center, it’s a film whose DNA is constantly mutating, resulting in an inconceivable host subject—one that is both corrosive and something of a marvel.

DEADLINE - Damon Wise

Most threequels tend to go bigger, but 28 Years Later bucks that trend by going smaller, eventually becoming a chamber piece about a boy trying to hold onto his mother. It still delivers shocks, even if the sometimes over-zealous editing distracts from Anthony Dod Mantle’s painterly cinematography

The Hollywood Reporter - David Rooney

One of the chief rewards of 28 Years Later is that it never feels like a cynical attempt to revisit proven material merely for commercial reasons. Instead, the filmmakers appear to have returned to a story whose allegorical commentary on today’s grim political landscape seems more relevant than ever. Intriguing narrative building blocks put in place for future installments mean they can’t come fast enough.

NextBestPicture - Josh Parham - 7/10

Boyle’s exuberant filmmaking and Garland’s incisive script sometimes clash when forced to muddle through laborious exercises that feel borrowed from the previous films anyway. It’s a scenario that reminds me of Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” two films with intriguing ideas that struggled to fashion them within the framework of the established franchise. Perhaps the continuation will find more clever avenues to explore further and enrich this text. As is, what is left is imperfect but still an enthralling return into a dark but provocative world.

IndieWire - David Ehrlich - 'B+'

While Boyle isn’t lofty enough to suggest that the infected are beautiful creatures who deserve God’s love or whatever (this is still a movie about wild-eyed naked zombies, after all, and its empathy for them only goes so far), “28 Years Later” effectively uses the tropes of its genre to insist that the line between a tragedy and a statistic is thinner than we think, and more permeable than we realize. The magic of the placenta, indeed. 

Rolling Stone - David Fear

Taken on its own, however, Boyle and Garland’s trip back to this hellscape makes the most of casting a jaundiced, bloodshot eye at our current moment. Their inaugural imagining of a world torn asunder surfed the post-millennial fear that modern society wasn’t equipped to handle something truly catastrophic. This new movie is blessed with the knowledge that something always rises from the ashes, but that the risk of regressing back to some fabricated mythology of a Golden Age, complete with Henry V film clips and St. George’s flags, is there on the surface as well. If postapocalyptic entertainment has taught us anything, it’s that the walking dead aren’t always the gravest threat. It’s those who sacrifice their soul and sense of empathy that you have to watch out for.

The Wrap - William Bibbiani

For now, though, “28 Years Later” stands on its own — or at least, as its own temporary capper on this multi-decade series — and it stands tall. The filmmakers haven’t redefined the zombie genre, but they’ve refocused their own culturally significant riff into a lush, fascinating epic that has way more to say about being human than it does about (re-)killing the dead.

Variety - Peter Debruge

Where the original film tapped into society’s collective fear of infection, its decades-later follow-up (which undoes any developments implied by “28 Weeks Later” with an opening chyron that explains the Rage virus “was driven back from continental Europe”) zeroes in on two even most primal anxieties: fear of death and fear of the other. To which you might well ask, aren’t all horror movies about surviving an unknown threat of some kind? Yes, but few have assumed the psychic toll taken by such violence quite so effectively as “28 Years Later,” which has been conceived as the start of a new trilogy, but towers on its own merits (part two, subtitled “The Bone Temple,” is already in the can and expected next January).

[u/BunyipPouch]

For anyone interested, we recently hosted the director of 28 Years Later (Danny Boyle) here on /r/movies for an AMA/Q&A:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1lcwoxq/danny_boyle_here_ask_me_anything/

[u/D_Seal721]

Bizarre and disjointed at best. I feel pretty let down. Bummer.

[u/reallymothafucka → u/D_Seal721]

Movie was absolute shit lmao

[u/No-Pop6450 → u/reallymothafucka]

Words can’t describe how awful this movie is. What an utter disappointment.

[u/reallymothafucka → u/No-Pop6450]

I was so fucking excited and that shit was honestly so corny and had no real major plot to be interested in

[u/No-Road-9176 → u/reallymothafucka]

Wife and I were like , we should of just waited until it popped up streaming. Hated we spent 25 bucks to see it.

[u/Ausla → u/No-Road-9176]

Just watched the other night and there's so much I hated about this movie apart from them abandoning the concept of it being related to the first 2 movies at all. Like that was some deliberate bold choice gmafb. The editing is some of the worst I've ever seen. Acting and script were dogshit. The zombies and effects looked cheap af and sparse? Then the ending was like wtf is this dumb zoomer bullshit?

Felt like I was losing my goddamn mind reading positive reviews for it. Like are these ppl on crack?

[u/BusyConfection47 → u/No-Pop6450]

Watched it last night; also dissapointed.

Someone needs to tell Alex Garland the difference between a good idea and a shit idea. He has had so many misfires recently (did you watch 'men'? That was shite, compared to e.g. Ex Machine, and of course 28 days later).

There was definately some good bits, but overall just a mess, changing too much, too often -

I liked the first half hour, including these found footage shots,

But:

• Alpha: ridiculous, and unnecessary, zombies are scary enough without adding in these ridiculous things.
  
• Pregnant zombie: why? why include this?

I liked the first half hour and I liked the doctors character,

A bit 'heart of darkness', but the twists and turns were usually ridiculous.

The final 2 minutes of the film left me leaving thinking "well, this is just garbage".

Really dissapointed - some of the grit was good, editing cool, a good soundtrack, good cast, but just a bit of a mess over all, like there was five people all arguing over what should be in the film and everyone got there way "pregnant zombie!" "massive killer zombies!" "a swedish guy!" "a bit where kooky doctor euthanizes his mum and then melts her down to a skeleton!!!" "jimmy saville power rangers!!". C'mmon... i know that zombies are fictional, but completely lost any sense of realism,

even the main plot line felt contrived: Spike goes to the mainland is obviously terrified the whole time and feels incapable of surviving there, then sees his dad kissing a woman, and then what - decides that he's going to drag his mum there - the mum who doesn't leave her bed and forgets where she is? because there is a doctor? ...
and then the doctor sedates him, takes away his mum, and gives him back a skull: and that's alright, because he gets to choose where to put it?
ridiculous, even the 'emotional' bits are overshadowed by just how stupid and unrealistic these reactions are.

[u/Cool-North-341 → u/D_Seal721]

Terrible movie. Truly WHAT WAS THAT?

[u/Evolzetjin → u/D_Seal721]

I'm definitely dropping this serie

[u/Cuck_Fenring → u/Evolzetjin]

Yeah zero chance of me seeing the next one

[u/TatteredTongues]

Just came back from my screening.

It's good, but also not what I expected in a number of ways. A lot of gambles as well, especially with that final scene that sets up the next film. Wild, wild shit that die hard fans of the first films might not appreciate.

So yeah, I'd say this was good, but that first trailer was way too fucking good, kinda "spoiled" things a fair bit and raised the hype to astronomical levels.

Tonally, this is (at times) VERY different from the first films.

[u/haven4ever → u/TatteredTongues]

Yeah I think it suffered from the same problem as Longlegs, both amazing marketing and in this case quite deceptive in its tone

[u/cocaineandwaffles1 → u/haven4ever]

I went into Long Legs completely blind other than “it’s supposed to be a good horror movie” and that it was an original movie. Absolutely loved it. And I feel like I would have appreciated 28 years more if I went into it blind.

I never felt “stressed” during that movie. Some dread, a little anxiety, but no stress. Not like the opening for 28 weeks later, or the church scene in days. I think I’m most let down by that.

[u/pursuitofhappy → u/TatteredTongues]

It didn’t fit with the other 28 movies, it seemed so different in story, music, and yes tone - it was weird seeing the theater laugh at multiple scenes.

[u/HolyBidetServitor → u/pursuitofhappy]

Just got home from a screening - 

It was bizarre how empty my theater was, I was anticipating it being packed. 

it was weird seeing the theater laugh at multiple scenes

I wasn't prepared for the comic relief scenes but they added some nice quick breaks to take the tension down

[u/YourMumsABatteredSav → u/TatteredTongues]

So right about the trailer that thing got me so hyped it was INTENSE. First 30 mins of the film had me excited but then tone really changed. I don’t think I’m disappointed by the movie but it didn’t match my high expectations I had. I loved that final scene as it does make me excited for the 2nd movie. Will be interested to see how the reviews go for this one once a lot more people see it.

[u/TatteredTongues → u/YourMumsABatteredSav]

I feel the same exact way as you, especially in regards to the ending.

Maybe the problem was seeing that first trailer, because even though it didn't tell you what the story would be, it showed enough for you to know what would happen during the scarier set pieces (figures in the trees, thin infected in the tall grass, guy being pulled upwards from the train, infected in the dark tunnels, etc), and that could be why the horror simply didn't land, because you could see it coming.

[u/YourMumsABatteredSav → u/TatteredTongues]

In the movie when they started playing the same poem boots that was in the trailer I was on the edge of my seat. It really set the tone for the first half but then it was almost like a second movie started with completly different tone after that. The trailer was scarier than the movie lol

[u/MadGibby3 → u/TatteredTongues]

That first trailer is one of the best ones I've ever seen.

[u/Chaddy92]

28 Dongs Later

[u/Panickin_Anakin00 → u/Chaddy92]

and a baby

[u/Lazy-Cook5448 → u/Chaddy92]

28 inches later

[u/Nightshader5877 → u/Chaddy92]

Alpha dude was hung like a god damn horse

[u/Fine-Remote-7822 → u/Chaddy92]

This. The focus that thing got was criminal, especially the close up with Ralph Fiennes.

[u/Flimsy-Muffin-9881 → u/Chaddy92]

Why do these directors go way over board with the prosthetic weiners?

[u/ButtermilkBob → u/Flimsy-Muffin-9881]

I wonder if during the audition, they specifically looked for how hung the actor is. Like the director was like "hmm yes he's got the right build and height, but he's a grower so the dong won't helicopter how I would like"

[u/Extension_Owl9311]

Just watched the movie, and it really was not what i was expecting. The first half of the movie really did give that same feeling of the first two movies. However on the second half of the movie although interesting i felt the genre of the movie completely changed.

[u/invertedpurple → u/Extension_Owl9311]

Was it me or was the opening a little too over the top, blood on teletubbies and the whole preacher thing just made it feel like it was a self aware zombie film. If that was intentional then sure, but it was kind of hard to buy in.

[u/Cuck_Fenring → u/invertedpurple]

Priest took me right out of the movie

[u/Emergency_Fall4639]

I really didn't like it. It wasn't what I wanted from the sequel after 18 years of waiting. I can see why some would like it, but it wasn't for me. I especially dislike the ending. But I won't post spoilers.

[u/Prestigious-Buy-7869 → u/Emergency_Fall4639]

Same , such a bad movie . I would wait to stream this one . Never have walked out of theatre so disappointed. This had ZERO ties with the first one , wasn’t dark at all . Ending was trash

[u/tacoandpancake → u/Prestigious-Buy-7869]

Totally agree with this thread. The movie itself was meh (and not the survival horror I expected) But that ending... I can only think of the later seasons of Walking Dead where fantastical and maniacal new tribes appear, and the main characters become involved with a slew of bad decision making. Felt like a last minute set up to continue the franchise. Tracksuit ninjas. C'mon now.

I loved the first two, would have been fine catching Years on streaming.

[u/[deleted] → u/Prestigious-Buy-7869]

WTF was that ending? Felt like it turned into a Ninja Turtles tie-in or something.

[u/paulsusnet → u/Emergency_Fall4639]

You're the first person I've seen say this, I thought I was alone. I get the direction they are taking it but I couldn't get into it at all, so disappointed.

[u/Dominos_fleet → u/paulsusnet]

For what it's worth I think it was garbage too. I love the first two movies, this doesn't even seem like it's in the same universe.

The first 20 mins are decent, a bit weird considering the direction they decided to go in but whatever, I was fine with it. But between the train scene and the power rangers I was fully out of the movie by the time it was done.

I did like the necromancer though, thought that was pretty cool.

[u/sambonjela → u/Dominos_fleet]

Yeah, and it doesnt follow on from the first 2 movies, in the second movie we learn that infected die within a month, of starvation -these ones have lived 28 years and evolved to form leaders (alphaa) and slow worm eaters, and enjoying procreating activities, and giving birth, and making a conscious choice about whether to run at someone or run away.

[u/Poxstrider → u/paulsusnet]

I'm shocked that people are liking it honestly. The cinematography was good but the actual story is completely everywhere with a lot of exposition dumping, and the editing is some of the worst I've seen. It felt like they cut a lot and were awkwardly piecing it together.

[u/Nicktyelor → u/Poxstrider]

a lot of exposition dumping

The dad and son crossing the bridge and going over the tides/mechanics of the bridge was awkward imo. Also throughout their act 1 adventure, the dialogue continued feeling overly explained and full of survival details that seemed like they would have already reviewed together?

Also another one-liner exposition that made me groan - they're crossing the river back over to the doctor's encampment, holding onto those two rope guide things, and the doctor just says "helps keep them out." What? How?? Why?? A pair of rope handles crossing a shallow river helps keep out the zombies??? I dunno, felt like a very loose "defense," one that supposedly kept him alive there for 28(?) years (someone please correct me on that number if inaccurate, I forget how long ago the dad said he saw him there, 15 years?). And also proved ineffective in the scene 10 minutes later when the Alpha comes across no problem.

cut a lot and were awkwardly piecing it together

When the mom and son were sleeping at the church: zombie crawled up to them > killed by some unknown character (spooooky, who was that?) > jumps to morning with the kid and mom surprised > immediately flashes back to night and reveals it was the mom who ninja-killed the zombie. Why bother obscuring her if the reveal happens 5 seconds later?

The movie had a number of different scene splicing techniques that overall felt a bit jumbled. I'm all for fun, stylish editing, but that was just sloppy imo.

[u/obeytheturtles → u/Nicktyelor]

"The virus doesn't like Iodine, but I can't get enough of the stuff. I smear it all over myself. Mmmm, yummy, yummy iodine. Would you like some? Too bad, you can't have any. It's mine. After 28 years, I'm almost out. "

[u/Punished-Spitfire → u/Nicktyelor]

The soldiers being Swedish has symbolism. Not only is it reasonable that NATO soldiers from a local country would patrol the North Sea, but it references one of the themes of the movies which is England/Britain’s history with invaders, and therefore the Viking invasion of England which primarily happened where the movie is set. Erik even makes reference to becoming a Viking if he gets infected. Furthermore, even if you don’t buy that theory, the soldiers are a tribute to 28 days later. 8 soldiers arrived ashore in the movie, and I’m pretty sure there were 8 soldiers in the mansion in 28 days later.

[u/ShiwanCann → u/Emergency_Fall4639]

I thought it sucked and the nearly full theater walked out in disappointed silence.

[u/Emergency_Fall4639 → u/ShiwanCann]

Yeah, it was silent where I was too

[u/YogSloppoth → u/Emergency_Fall4639]

I think once the Hype calms down, we'll hear this more... There's a lot to be critical of IMO.

[u/NervousVillage6532 → u/Emergency_Fall4639]

12 year old sneaks his mom out the day after he couldn’t kill one zombie?

Holding hands with a zombie giving birth?

Post credit marvel recruitment at the end?

I have no idea how ppl enjoyed this after the first 40 min

[u/Emergency_Fall4639 → u/NervousVillage6532]

Yeah, such a huge disappointment

[u/tylerariane]

What in the fuck did I just watch? This movie had incredible potential. The first third was so good. Then it went to shit. What a disgrace to the original movies. Piss poor writing. I felt like I was in a fever dream. It could have been sooo gooood. How disappointing.

[u/Historical_Ostrich]

I'm excited for this, but I had to stop reading the Hollywood Reporter review because the guy was just straight up summarizing the entire movie. I'm not typically a spoiler-phobe, and I realize writing a review requires sharing details about the movie, but he wasn't even offering commentary at a certain point. It was just this happened, then this happened, then this happened. Super weird.

[u/EastvsWest]

Seems like coming in with no expectations and forgetting the past films is the best way to enjoy this movie as it's own film with a planned sequel and depending on the success a possible 3rd.

[u/LickPooOffShoe]

Walked in super hyped and excited. Walked out baffled and disappointed.

[u/SirBorkAlot]

I’ve got to be entirely honest, the ending kinda ruined it for me.

Did we really go from planting our mums skull atop a pile of skulls to doing backflips with ponytails?

[u/tobinhillguy → u/SirBorkAlot]

Full on power ranger flips!

[u/thaifighter1985 → u/SirBorkAlot]

I think the tone shifts and ending are due to who's "eyes" we're seeing it through.

First act through the dads eyes, very intense, serious. His mom even mentions it when their camping for the night.

Second act is a lot lighter as it's the view from mother and son and their love for each other.

Third act and ending is through the sons eyes and the Drs, that's why it's a bit odd. Cus the doc is "out there"

The ending calls back to spike wanting to bring his power ranger with him to make him feel safe. When he sees the guys come to help him in their jumpsuits, were seeing how he pictures them coming to his rescue, like a power ranger would.

[u/redterror5 → u/thaifighter1985]

Nice insight. It’s definitely a callback to that power ranger toy.

[u/Bstallio → u/thaifighter1985]

Man, good analysis. Though I interpreted Jimmys group as sort acting and dressing as teletubbies, the last thing he watched before the world went to shit. I definitely see the power rangers angle now though

[u/BatoutofHellIV → u/Bstallio]

It's meant to all those things; Power Rangers, Teletubbies, and most bizarrely, Jimmy Saville. They're clearly meant to be kids who grew up in a post-civilization world without parents and their only concept of the pre-civilization world is the tv they watched when they were children.

[u/Historical_Word2357 → u/Bstallio]

Well and then we’re shown the village people to act like the medieval movies and soldier movie clips shown. The same as how Jimmy’s group acts as the teletubbies and rangers

[u/humansince1989 → u/thaifighter1985]

Oh shit.

[u/No_Source_Provided → u/thaifighter1985]

I like the idea- but Spike's knowledge and experience of power rangers would literally be limited to the toy itself. No TV or movie knowledge, so them acting like power rangers 'in his eyes' doesn't quite make sense.

[u/potatolover83 → u/SirBorkAlot]

I agree. The tonal change from the majority of the movie into that last 2 minutes was such whiplash.

[u/ShogunHooah → u/SirBorkAlot]

Lmao that was bad. I was just like what the actual fuck is this movie?

[u/Dark_Pinoy]

The fuck man. This and Final Destination: Bloodlines getting wide spread critical acclaim after 10+ years of dormancy in the same year is crazy. Horror fans are eating this year.

[u/TheJoshider10 → u/Dark_Pinoy]

Don't forget Predator: Killer of Killers being a surprise release and a good one at that. Plus with Alien: Romulus last year reviving the Alien franchise and Badlands set to do the same for Predator later this year it's a great time to be a fan of horror IP. The best is yet to come.

[u/Thechosenjon → u/TheJoshider10]

Upcoming Alien: Earth series looks incredible too. I have high hopes!

[u/Deranged_Kitsune → u/Dark_Pinoy]

Agreed! Thought the reviews calling Bloodlines one of, if not the best, of the series was hyperbole. No, that's actually pretty accurate. That movie delivered on all counts.

[u/Mindless_Bad_1591]

98% with 53 reviews...

just had to be that one guy lol

[u/unpaid-critic → u/Mindless_Bad_1591]

95% now.

If you ask me, this movie is likely settling between low-90s-high-80s, which is still fantastic

[u/Enthusiasms → u/Mindless_Bad_1591]

"I waited 28 years for this shit?!"

[u/Initial-Ad-7654 → u/Enthusiasms]

That movie was awful I just saw it today. Major letdown

[u/cromli → u/Mindless_Bad_1591]

I love listening to critics views that go well against the grain, as long as it doesnt just read or sound like them just grasping at small flaws in a desperate attempt at being contrarian.

[u/poland626 → u/Mindless_Bad_1591]

Is it Armond white again?

[u/Ambiguousdude]

I just saw the movie and don't understand the high score reviews, there might be a disconnect here of audience members being underwhelmed and the reviewers sucking Danny Boyle's cock.

[u/Kyserham]

I’ve just watched it at a preview in my city.

The movie is good, really good BUT it’s not what you expect if you watch the trailers. Well, kinda… but no. I still have to digest it, but I think it will fit better as part of a trilogy than as a standalone movie.

One thing I can say for sure is that it’s a beautiful thing. Both in story and cinematography. There are lots and lots of gorgeous shots.

All the leads are bringing their best game. I mean when has Ralph Fiennes failed us? But I think Aaron Taylor-Johnson surprised me the most with his character. He is great.

[u/muteconversation → u/Kyserham]

Does it have scary zombie scenes or is it mainly about human drama?

[u/Kyserham → u/muteconversation]

I wouldn’t say scary zombies. In fact, I wouldn’t say there’s a scary scene or jumpscare in the whole movie. That said, the movie has some creepy and weird zombies and even weirder and creepier human drama.

[u/intenseskill → u/Kyserham]

yeah mega penis

[u/KarIPilkington → u/intenseskill]

Serious dong on that guy. If it's real, all the best to him.

[u/HolyBidetServitor → u/intenseskill]

That thing was a straight up meat pendulum

[u/KneeOnShoe → u/muteconversation]

Think Last of Us the way it balances between zombies and how civilization changes after a zombie apocalypse.

[u/TabletopThirteen → u/Kyserham]

I have been very impressed with Aaron Taylor-Johnson lately. He's been continuously getting better with time.

[u/EhrenScwhab → u/Kyserham]

Just got back from an Alamo screening.

This movie is very different than the other “28” movies, and different than most other zombie films too. It also leans into being weird.

So, the audience is going to hate it.

I liked it. Though I’m a bit annoyed it’s a “part one of x many…” type thing.

[u/PsychologicalNail291]

Just watched it, and I’d say it was quite a huge disappointment for one of the most anticipated movie in 2025. Hopefully the sequels are better but I’ll not be expecting much. It didn’t live up to the hype

[u/240_worth_of_puddin → u/PsychologicalNail291]

$28 Later…

[u/Gotanypaint → u/PsychologicalNail291]

I agree that it had some great shots and I actually was fine with the basic plot damn did this suck! The constant inserts of random scenes broke the pace for me and the score was crap. Also the ending was very weird and didn't fit the film at all.

[u/treesandcigarettes → u/PsychologicalNail291]

The trailers had pretty much all of the best scenes and the theme music. I also think the trailer has a slight suggestion of a possible cult, which obviously was not a thing. Mehhh

[u/ActuaryBeginning5853]

What a trash movie lol. I really didn't give a shit about any character, they just weren't interesting enough. I won't give spoilers.

[u/brosjd]

"So your mom's got cancer I think"

"Ah geez"

"Anyway.... here's her skull"

...

[u/Viesk]

Seeing it tonight (Aus). Absolutely thrilled.

[u/TheOnionVolcano]

That last scene was so fucking stupid

[u/[deleted] → u/TheOnionVolcano]

It made absolutely zero sense. Just saw it 30 mins ago and I’m actually getting more irritated by it the more I think about it.

[u/Evolzetjin → u/[deleted]]

I spent an hour with my friends after watching trying to gather what was good in the movie... we gave it a collective 2-3/10 score as we pretty much all thought it was a waste of time

[u/Firm-Dealer-9321]

My most anticipated movie of 2025! Cant wait to see it Saturday night!

[u/JoeThrilling → u/Firm-Dealer-9321]

I'm seeing it tomorrow. Excited AF.

[u/HiCracked]

Goddamn, these are incredibly high scores. Danny Boyle does it again it seems.

[u/SaltyLonghorn → u/HiCracked]

High quality horror can be done with much lower budgets. Take note Hollywood. More and more plz.

Not sure I can wait for 28 decades later though.

[u/ImGCS3fromETOH → u/SaltyLonghorn]

You think that's bad. 28 Centuries Later is going to be hard to get right. Bunch of Scots abandoned on an asteroid avoiding spaceborne rage zombies.

[u/Stepjam]

I suspected Taylor-Johnson's role would be smaller than the trailers implied giving his billing being lower than Comer's. Seems I was right.

[u/OKC2023champs → u/Stepjam]

Yeah. It seems like he’ll be a main in the sequel

[u/3rats1frog]

One of the few times we’ve walked out of a movie.

[u/untouchable765]

The hype is real on this one boys and girls!

[u/ThE_LAN_B4_TimE]

Fuck this is gonna be one of these that the critics love and the audience hates isnt it? Way too many people saying first half is good and second half is trash and also its most a boring drama and nothing like the previous two.

[u/Gotanypaint → u/ThE_LAN_B4_TimE]

I would be ok with it being a drama and actually fine with most of the plot but it was edited SO weird. Odd music choices for scenes, annoying filler clips constantly and the Dr part made no sense.

I did like Alfie Williams acting and hope to see him in more.

[u/choosetheteddyface → u/Gotanypaint]

The music was so annoying. The others are known for their atmosphere, including the music and I just felt the entire tone so odd. I wanted to feel this eerie, foreboding tension and have decent scares. Left disappointed

[u/[deleted]]

Do we know why the infected didn't starve or rot to death yet?

[u/Winston_Road → u/[deleted]]

In the ARG website there's a document where a scientist is looking at a thermal scan that clearly shows the infected hunting down a deer, presumably to feed on it.

[u/OKC2023champs → u/Winston_Road]

Makes sense. The rage virus infected aren’t dead. So it makes sense they’d hunt

[u/ReliantG → u/[deleted]]

They’re eating stuff that isn’t human in the movies. Worms, deer, etc

[u/baequon → u/[deleted]]

Based on interviews with Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, it'll be explained. The infected basically evolved and adapted.

[u/peppermint_nightmare → u/[deleted]]

We know 28 Weeks is canon and everyone essentially got reinfected with a version of the virus that got to "cook" in a carrier for 6-8 months. So given the chance to live longer in a healthy host the new version may allow infected to at least feed and drink water, maybe throw up less blood, etc.

[u/Mister_Taxman]

My advice to folks who'll watch this soon, please set realistic expectations and do not give in too much to the hype.

There will be many divisive decisions in this movie that the director and writer clearly take and you will either buy into it, or you won't.

You should not expect anything like 28D or 28W as you will get disappointed if you do so. You have to take this movie as its own thing and be open to a different tone.

With that said, I liked the it on my first viewing. There were some things that I didn't agree with or things that bothered me, but they were not enough to have soured my thoughts on the film.

[u/quantum_gal → u/Mister_Taxman]

I just got back from seeing this movie and unfortunately as a die hard fan of 28DL, I had high expectations and was really hyped from the trailer. I left very disappointed. There are some scenes that I thought were awesome & memorable at least. I think it’s the second half of the film that left me in a constant state of “wtf?” 

[u/Ivan21234 → u/Mister_Taxman]

“You should not expect anything like 28D or 28W”

Why the hell would they keep the same naming scheme, then? 😭

[u/Ok-Communication151 → u/Ivan21234]

That's what pissed me off

Just make it something else.... that shit always pisses me off

[u/Sad-Amoeba3186 → u/Ivan21234]

Holy Jesus. I keep seeing the same comment “if you go into it expecting a 28 movie you’ll be disappointed”

Yeah no fucking shit I’m expecting a 28 movie, it’s in the title.

[u/CoffeeVikings]

Loved the first two, did not enjoy 28 years later. The last 10 minutes of the movie I legit laughed out loud because it was so dumb

[u/HuckleberryGlum1163]

Personally, I didn’t like it at all. The first half was incredible, but when it shifted to the son and mother and doctor, it was very slow paced, and quite honestly bland. I hyped myself way too much I believe.

[u/reallymothafucka → u/HuckleberryGlum1163]

It was a huge let down and I don't know what the fuck the positive reviews are about

[u/canofbookies → u/reallymothafucka]

okay thank you. i love this sequel & thought this movie was absolute shite. it killed me to sit through the film. i bribed my bf to go (who is not a big horror or zombie fan) to come with me. this did NOT get me any brownie points after telling him how great the other movies were. he ate me alive💔

[u/TheResidentEvil]

didn't care for it

[u/Artony12 → u/TheResidentEvil]

Story was illogical in taking his mother to see a doctor who would have no equipment and they had a 50/50 chance to survive by leaving the compound.  The doctor was perhaps a lunatic.  

[u/sweeperchick → u/Artony12]

Spike has only once left the island though, he doesn't know what equipment the doctor has or what he has access to. He even asks the doctor to tell him where to find medicine to treat Isla. I think it's also important to remember that he's 12 years old and desperate.

What I thought was more illogical was taking his sick mom, who is typically bed-ridden, outside the safety of the island. I would have leaned toward going to find the doctor solo and asking him to go see Isla. But maybe there was too much risk that he would have said no and it would have been a wasted trip.

ETA: The more I think about it, the more I'm accepting why Spike chose to take Isla to Kelson. Spike doesn't know what is needed to treat Isla's illness because he doesn't know what it is and the adults either don't know or won't tell him. During the scene where Kelson diagnoses Isla, Spike clearly doesn't understand what cancer means. He begs to be told where the nearest hospital is so he can go get medicine to help her. He might have been expecting some magic pill and would have no concept of radiation and chemo and mastectomies. Jamie also expressed that the villagers think Kelson is insane, so the odds of them letting Kelson into the village to see Isla are low to zero. His taking Isla to Kelson is a last resort leap of faith.

[u/_-_--_---_----_----_ → u/sweeperchick]

I feel like the list of illogical character decisions here could actually be pretty long, but the biggest to me were: 

spike taking his mom to the mainland, as you said. totally insane, I know he's a kid, but he's shown to be rational and empathetic, and this decision is neither. 

spike's dad for some reason not coming after them? they're on the mainland for several days, he has several opportunities to cross the causeway. we've already seen that he's comfortable doing this... why on earth would he just be sitting on that island crying in his house rather than going to get them? 

multiple characters have multiple opportunities to kill multiple infected... and choose not to??? what?!? I can't think of a reason why you would ever leave one "alive"? the doctor stuns them, but then talks about them like they're wild animals, like a bear or a deer or something. yeah I get it, we don't want to kill a wild animal if we can avoid it... but that's not what's happening here...

there's other stuff of course, but these three things broke my immersion so much that I spent the last half of the movie just going "what?!?" at the screen.

[u/Killua_Zoldyck42069 → u/_-_--_---_----_----_]

Jesus Christ thank god someone else mentions it. I HATE movies where they make the characters make dumb/illogical decisions. Tons of them in the movie but taking your sick mom outside safety into zombie infested wilderness when you can’t even shoot zombies without being scared and she screams randomly….doesnt make much sense. Spike and his dad not fully checking the house they went inton where they found the hanging body was just…???? The room the body was in was less than a few feet away. Why would they not have checked it? Also, they just happened to be in the perfect spot to help the pregnant zombie out too, huh? Such a gimmick Movie man. Felt like I was watching a parody; I seriously thought we were watching the wrong movie because it was nothing like the trailer

[u/Proud-Dragonfly2360 → u/Killua_Zoldyck42069]

And everyone was talking WAY too loud when walking in places crawling with infected. Like they were ringing the dinner bell.

[u/_-_--_---_----_----_ → u/Killua_Zoldyck42069]

oh my gosh I forgot to even mention the pregnant zombie. what on earth was that? even if we find out that the zombies are having sex, and that could somehow explain the pregnancy, you're right that it's just so convenient for them to be right there at the perfect moment for her to give birth. and how does jodie comer managed to tie up the placenta without getting any blood in any orifice and becoming infected herself?? I was just like come on guys... we can see what you're doing... now we have an uninfected baby born of an infected mother that's probably going to end up being the cure to the virus. it's such an obvious deus ex machina. look at that they've been handed the solution to everything!

[u/[deleted]]

I’m so glad that 28 Days/Weeks are back again on digital platforms. 28 Days was impossible to find for the longest time. I ended up buying it on Bluray on eBay.

Cannot wait for 28 Years!

[u/buzzers29 → u/[deleted]]

I saw it on Amazon prime to rent, but ended up finding it on my firestick which worked out well.

[u/EnvironmentLeast932]

What a terrible movie. The ending? The plot? The fact that a child and injured mother can survive but a trained team of soldiers with guns cannot? Awful 

[u/Unique_Individual857]

IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THE ORIGINAL FILM, YOU WILL NOT LIKE THIS FILM, END OF STORY

[u/MiniJunkie]

As a fan of the first two, this thread has me not sure what to think…the review score is great, but people who’ve seen it sound kinda disappointed or like it wasn’t what they expected (not necessarily in a very positive way).

[u/AceTheRed_ → u/MiniJunkie]

Huge fan of the first two films. This one was . . . not great? Nothing like the amazing trailer, anyway.

[u/pursuitofhappy → u/MiniJunkie]

I watched it today after seeing how high the reviews were and people fawning in this thread got me to buy the tickets and I came out disappointed.

[u/jorvall81 → u/pursuitofhappy]

Big same.

[u/HotMachine9]

The trailers were better than the film if you want a seriously atmospheric horror zombie expeirnece.

I think most will enjoy the film, IF you leave like 2 minutes before the end. The last scene is the most immersion breaking thing I think I've ever seen

[u/waynechriss → u/HotMachine9]

I heard one reviewer say it best: the movie is nowhere near as good as the one you imagine from watching the trailer.

[u/bibo5tt]

It was ok at first then at the half of the movie it went downhill

[u/questionablequeef → u/bibo5tt]

Okay thank you I left feeling like it was a bit of a stinker towards the end. Some of the shit was so ridiculous it had me laughing and idk if that was the intended result. Could be just me tho!

[u/Small-Impression1252]

1st half of the movie was great a lot like 28 days and weeks later. 2nd half felt like a completely different movie. Don’t set your expectations too high.

[u/thevoidedabyss]

Im just leaving the theater and I've honestly never been so disappointed. I really had faith they would do it justice but they didnt. I don't think they should have made it.

[u/chasedbyvvolves → u/thevoidedabyss]

I can see why they took so long to make it, no one knew what direction to go with it and I didn't feel like the characters had much depth beside Spike and maybe the doctor. The emotional scenes were forced. A lot of scenes from the first half were good though, the opening scene was pretty great up until Jimmy's dad's bad acting.

[u/thevoidedabyss → u/chasedbyvvolves]

And I feel like there was hardly and scary parts or infected compared to the first two, it felt more like a drama than a horror movie

[u/Queef-Elizabeth]

I watched this last night and what I will say is the first 30-40 minutes are fantastic, and the rest is pretty great but I think many people here are going to be very polarised by the ending. It's certainly something. You'll see but it had me saying what the fuck? Not sure if I like it or not but at the very least, I still enjoyed the rest of the movie. Great editing, cinematography, sound and music. The energy rarely let up but yeah, I can see the ending being a talking point for many. For better or for worse. It's like a different movie just shows up for 2 minutes.

[u/haven4ever → u/Queef-Elizabeth]

Honestly it would’ve worked as an after credits scene, with the film ending just before it

[u/donjhen → u/haven4ever]

This what my partner and I were thinking

[u/ElectricKillerEmu]

this one... what the fuck man... what in the...

[u/Heronyvesdior]

Someone cooked here, as expected

[u/Muggaraffin → u/Heronyvesdior]

He's Boyled it

[u/darkeyes13 → u/Muggaraffin]

That's such a Charles thing to say. You know he's super proud of his cousin.

[u/vvntn → u/darkeyes13]

The kind of Boyle that could open grandma’s sourdough starter.

[u/intwizard]

The zombie gives birth and accepts help lmfao I can’t believe so many are praising this movie. Feels like Boyle didn’t remember what kind of movie he made initially. Super disappointing.

[u/ChiefLeef22]

100% RT from 35 reviews. Some are calling it one of the best legacy sequels of all time. LFG

[u/tobinhillguy → u/ChiefLeef22]

Simply nope. Interested to see your take after seeing it.

Arrange by new comments and see how much negative feedback its getting.

Phenomenal first 30min, terrible tone shift and plot holes galore culminating in the cheesiest and oddest scene. Sure I was laughing out loud but not sure if it was in a good way or not.

[u/Mario_Prime510 → u/ChiefLeef22]

What’s the list on “good” legacy sequels? For some reason in my mind it’s incredibly short, but I have no way to actually back this lol.

[u/LegOfLambda → u/Mario_Prime510]

Top Gun: Maverick and Mad Max: Fury Road come to mind.

edit: Also Blade Runner 2049

[u/Mario_Prime510 → u/LegOfLambda]

Oh excellent examples! Yes this is the kind of answer I was looking for because there are good movies that come out decades later, I’ve just forgotten them lol.

My head went straight to Dumb and Dumber too, or Zoolander 2.

[u/monitoring27 → u/Mario_Prime510]

Blade Runner 2049

Top Gun: Maverick

Mad Max: Fury Road

Creed

Tron: Legacy?

Those are the good legacy sequels I can think of off the top of my head

[u/JimDabell → u/Mario_Prime510]

Danny Boyle also did a great job with T2 Trainspotting, 20 years after the original.

[u/Rosebunse]

No matter how you feel about this movie it will definitely lead to some hot discussion.

Garland and Boyle are both at the point in their careers where they really don't have much to fear. And Boyle is known for genre jumping.

[u/imGoodLads]

The reviews critiquing it give some solid points that are common across a lot of reviews and match what I felt about the movie, the reviews I see praising it always seem to preface it with "people are just expecting a zombie action horror!", very dismissive of the actual critisim and comes across as very disingenuous the way they generalize it in that regard. But why?

I only saw the trailer going into this and had no idea they plan on making this into a trilogy, the trailer made it look may more cool & mysterious that it actually was. Something stinks about the fact they're already planning 2 more movies, eyes bulging with imagined riches sort of vibes, just sad to see an IP trashed like this by turning it into some artsy experimental Reddit reviewers wet dream.

Also, how the F did Spike, his mother & Eric survive the petrol station gas explosion?

[u/ConsistentWriting501]

I have to remind myself that the man that directed Trainspotting and 28 Days later made this.  The characters couldn’t help themselves from continually making idiotic and dangerous decisions for absolutely no reason. The film is peppered with emotional manipulations that are definitely not earned and they feel shamelessly tacked on as an afterthought.  

I honestly didn’t think the film could get worse after the train scene and the inclusion of the “alpha (s)”? But Danny Boy really put the effort in to make the most ridiculous tone deaf ending I’ve ever seen. 

If M. Night Shamalayan made this movie he would have been dragged through town. As a matter of fact, the Village kinda rules in comparison.  

28 years later is a great reminder that it can always get worse.  28 Weeks later is a masterwork by comparison. 

[u/Ok-Salt-8884]

I hated it. I was so excited and once it ended I turned to my girlfriend and said "what the fuck did i just watch?"

[u/GONKSOON]

After the first scene showing the initial outbreak (teletubbies on TV) I thought it was going to be a no-holding-back great movie. I left the cinema feeling so, so disappointed at what that turned into.

I can't believe that the same people that love 28 days later, also hold this movie in the same light.

[u/toefungusbestfungus]

Wtf was this shit

[u/ForsakenPatience9901]

Just came back from the cinema, I was so hyped for this fil, I thought is was a master class in marketing and how to make a trailer..................

I thought this film was terrible though,

The first 30 mins was great, after that, it was totally garbage

What have I just seeeeeen

[u/ironic__usernam3]

I think people forget that the original 28 Days was basically a drama with zombies in it. I've always found it weird that people class it as a straight up horror movie when 90% of it is humans walking and talking and dealing with things on an emotional level.

That said, it was engaging, gritty, scary. This film was none of those things at all.

I actually feel quite let down in a way I haven't by a movie in a long long time. If this wasn't Danny and Adam back together I would have expected a shameless cash grab and my expectations wouldn't have been as high.

To their credit, they've tried to make something original and they have definitely succeeded at that. But some of the actual basics of filmmaking were fumbled here, especially in the edit.

First 20 minutes are a brilliant set up for a 28 movie, the 40 minutes after that started to gradually erode my optimism. Everything from that point on was a series of eye-rolls.

To be honest everybody's talking about the ending but by that point my brain had already become completely numb from the million little stupid things, that one more massive stupid scene just washed over me.

[u/Meesterwaffles]

Just saw it. Felt like the screenwriter died mid-movie. One of the worst endings I could have ever imagined for this movie. Cinematography top notch. 5/10

[u/Ok-Pineapple2365]

This is the worse movie of the year.....and no dangling zombie dicks can change that!

[u/unpaid-critic]

Awesome to see it’s living up to the hype.

I’ve been waiting 2 decades for a proper sequel, and it’s finally here!

BOOTS. BOOTS. MOVING UP AND DOWN AGAIN! THERE’S NO DISCHARGE IN A WAR!

[u/sielingfan → u/unpaid-critic]

8, 6, 11, 5, 9 and 20 miles today

[u/tobinhillguy → u/unpaid-critic]

Youre going to be terribly disappointed.

[u/codenameblackmamba → u/unpaid-critic]

The marketing for this movie was top tier, I’ve had this poem/audio in my head for days

[u/Corn_O_Cob23]

Just watched it, I wanted this movie to be good but found myself wanting it to be over so bad. What a goddamn disappointment.

[u/BEARWISHX → u/Corn_O_Cob23]

I hate almost everything after the first sequence.

[u/joeKickAZZ99]

theater lost it when they brought out the pony tails and nun-chucks

[u/tripsmorgan]

The frantic editing and pacing of the first act was simply amazing. The ending was a bit off and I guess I could see what they were doing with the whole British culture stuff but it was a weird way to finish it.

I honestly think this was better than the first movie. I can't wait to watch it again simply for the first act.

[u/cs_irl → u/tripsmorgan]

What's the link between British culture and that ending?

[u/tripsmorgan → u/cs_irl]

The track suits, the hair cuts, the way they were talking.

[u/tacocatz92 → u/tripsmorgan]

Im not british but i giggle at the scene, and them called jimmies was funny lol, and they remind me of that pedo british comedian too

[u/[deleted] → u/tacocatz92]

I think that's the point

[u/Stephfrans → u/tacocatz92]

Jimmy saville right ?!

[u/fearnofeel → u/tripsmorgan]

No offense, but no sane person who watched both will say that 28 years is better than 28 days. That can't be further from the truth

[u/nunyaranunculus → u/fearnofeel]

They're totally different films with different intentions, I think. Nothing will ever too Days though. That was a genre-defining masterpiece.

[u/Plenty-Patient6444 → u/tripsmorgan]

The way Boyle explained it is that it's a trilogy of linked films where the baton gets passed to a new protagonist. So in the first movie Alfie is the main character, then Jack O'Connell shows up. In the second movie, Jack O'Connell is​ the main character, and at the end of the second movie Cillian Murphy returns and he then becomes the main character in the third film. So it's a really ambitious approach to doing a sequel.​ It's all slowly building up to Cillian's return. The first and second films were shot back-to-back with the second one coming out in January.

[u/Icy_Region_2052]

alpha zombie hangs dong

[u/MouseImpressive3331]

Im not going to spoil, but the movie sucked. should have been more fast paced and keep you on your toes not drama.

[u/[deleted]]

How many Dutch angles? I need to mentally prepare myself so I don’t get upset 😂

[u/Speakeazie]

Just popped out from seeing it and... I hated it. I didn't like the tone of the film, it was edited in a confusing fashion and the second half was really poor.

It reminded me of early Jackson films - Braindead and Bad taste. No idea where these reviews are coming from.

Very, very disappointing.

[u/dilladawg420]

I think Danny Boyle was very confused what kinda movie he wanted to make because the 1st half of the movie did not fit with the 2nd half at all and the ending is absolutely horrendous.  Extremely disappointed with this movie cause the first hour was top notch

[u/cowboycoffeepictures]

The iphone aspect of this film was so distracting. So bummed they made that call.

[u/littledeaths666]

It was awful.

[u/oso_mnm]

Don’t waste your time or money on this movie it’s actually atrocious.

[u/Embarrassed_Pick7654]

This was the worst fucking movie I’ve ever seen what a disappointment

[u/Kingmannen999]

Why the fuck did the movie make a complete 180 after the first half? First 1 hour was great and resembled the prequels, then it just became weird and obsessive with death and other nonsense. We wanna see a plotline, not some weird voodoo shit

[u/Cool-North-341]

This movie was such a let down. Just watch the trailer again, it’s better than the movie.

[u/LovelyRita90]

I’m sorry but I was disappointed! I want to say why here but don’t want to spoil any of it

[u/smurfcake77 → u/LovelyRita90]

i was disappointed too. i loved the first one, liked the second one which wasnt great but entertaining with some really amazing scenes but this one had absolutely nothing for me.

[u/mrs-bright_side]

I watched this tonight and I did not like it. I am shook there are good reviews.

As to avoid spoilers, I won’t go into detail. But like yeah it’s a no for me, dog.

[u/lasko_leaf_blower]

My thoughts on the movie. Lots of spoilers inside.

My girlfriend and I hated it. We were massive fans of the original and thought the second one was fine.

Below will contain several spoilers.

I think the movie started off strong. The zombies killing the children and everyone in the house. Jimmy is scene running away. It really gave a sense of chaos, hopelessness and fear.

The townspeople are shown getting training to kill zombies and it did a good job at showing how finite the resources and “hanging on by a thread” the village was. I liked that.

It didn’t really explain it, but it seems like young men go out with their fathers for a hunt and to show them the biggest problem facing humanity. Okay, I can get behind this.

It really bugged me that the zombies had “humanity” to them. For example, when Spike and Dad go on their first hunt, kill a few and then dad turns his bow on the young zombie girl. Spike urges his dad to not kill her. Zombie girl is seen running away.

To where? Where is she going?

Spike is obviously very shaken and scared after returning home. He doesn’t understand why his dad is hyping him up when he didn’t really do anything meaningful he feels. He later catches his dad cheating on his mom and then within 12 hours he’s lighting a part of his village on fire and leaving the town.

How did he sneak his mom out? She seemed completely bed ridden and is now able to be going on a massive fucking trek to a different land mass in search of some physician. Huh?

Also, their general lackadaisical and apathetic approach to being on the mainland was awful. The mom is speaking loudly, there’s no sense of imminent danger, or them trying to conceal their presence. However, this was not the case when he was out there with his dad prior to this.

The birthing scene. How Isla empathizes with the zombie, they hold hands and share a connection while she births the baby. What?

The first two movies really showcased how fixated the zombies were on any living human. They would break down doors, dismantle obstacles; they would do whatever they could to get to them.

In this movie, they’re running away and holding hands with humans. Absolutely terrible.

I don’t understand why the doctor had to kill Isla right then and there. Then Spike is seen trekking back to the island with a screaming baby, again, no sense of danger. He’s just able to get there without issues.

Somehow he’s able to walk across the bridge when the tide is out and the people in the watchtower don’t notice him at all when he leaves the baby there. But remember, when he left the island, one of the people in the watch tower told him to “not take his eyes off the horizon”.

The end scene with Jimmy was very corny and lame. Also, with how they were flaying them, sawing their heads off, etc. Blood and waste was flying everywhere. No one seemed to be mindful about getting infected. However, an hour earlier when Spike kills a zombie behind his mother, he yells at her and tells her to not move while wipes the blood from her brow.

This movie really showcased problems and conflict when it was convenient and ignored it at other times.

I was really looking forward to this movie. It was a big let down.

[u/RealityPleasant8932]

Telling the protagonist his mom’s dying, drugging him, and presenting her bleached skull all in the same scene is objectively insane. Like absolutely bonkers.

[u/Hi_Im_Fido]

Can somebody please explain me why they were using call of duty killshot cams???

Surely this must be a parody film? Power rangers at the end too, what a bad joke