28 Years Later, 2025

 

Well, the infection raged. And almost three decades later, Western Europe was cleared and Great Britain was quarantined to contain the virus, (again.) Survivors, unfortunately, were left on their own.

One small island community, accessible only by a fortified causeway that only appears at low tide, subsists through farming, fishing, hunting, and sharing resources.

One thing that is mandatory, however, is defense. And training is key. Being able to kill the enemy when the time comes is a rite of passage.

Spike is twelve, and his dad feels that he is ready for his first kill. They venture out confidently, but after encountering fat, slow, crawling infected, and then running, snarling rage-filled ones, and finally something called an ‘Alpha,’ the father son duo barely make it back to the island.

Here on that island, life is quaint, folkish, and anachronistic, (and if it weren’t for the threat of the homicidal mainlanders wanting to kill, eat, and savage you, kinda desirable!) Technology is medieval, with no computers, radios, or even firearms. Bows and arrows are the chief weapons of defense of the uninfected, maybe a knife. The best key to survival is staying away from the mainland.

But Spike’s mom is sick, not infected, mind you. Just not well. So, when Spike hears of a doctor still alive out there in the wilderness, he makes a desperate choice to return with her. Here’s where the meat and potatoes of the story begins.

The Zomb…, I mean, ‘infected,’ are the sort from the previous two ’28’ movies: angry, growling, and thoroughly without mind, mercy, or conscious. This time however, we see three distinct varieties. The “Slow and Low,” are fat, crawl on the ground, and seem to get by feeding on worms, grubs, and assorted insects, but they will certainly' swerve up on a human should the opportunity arise. 

Then are your standard infected. Coordinated runners who sprint all out, all the time. They kill with hands and teeth, biting and eating, (and thusly, like the chubby crawlers, spread the virus.) They typically travel in hordes, day or night.

Finally, are the “Alphas.” They are huge. Extra tall and muscular, and require many more strikes to damage or slow them down. They also are seemingly more evolved. There is some degree of patience and planning with Alphas, but Boy! They can still boogie! And a full-tilt sprint from a jacked 6’ 6” dude with violent murder in his eyes is not what one wants bearing down on them!

All of the infected are unarmed, filthy, and naked. But with ‘rage’ as the only emotion, humility, hygiene, and fashion-sense seems to just fall by the wayside. This creates an even further distinction between the humans and the animalistic infected. It also adds a nice touch of ‘monsterishness.’

The protagonists are interesting, too. Their way of survival, customs, and responsibilities is portrayed well, and one understands the demands of their culture. Important to add that no one is overtly duplicitous or mean, despite personal faults.

So, let’s get to the ratings. The acting is convincing all around, both from sick and healthy, and the effects, (although sometimes surprising extra bloody,) is believable. And the movie moves along at a decent pace. According to my Zombie Movie Rubric, (and for all intents, we’re rating them as ‘zombies,’ since running zombies have blurred that line.) 28 Years Later earned itself a 3.1, out of a possible 4 stars, (Points? Thumbs-up? Never DID make that distinction, did I? But I digress.)        

    Although not as shockingly different and awesome as ’28 Days’ nor as dramatically engaging as ’28 Weeks,’ ’28 Years Later’ still rings in with a solid recommendation!

A coupla' nice trailers to view on IMDb ☞ 28 YEARS LATER