June 24, 2025
28 years after the second outbreak of the Rage Virus, the British Isles remained to the only place in Europe still overrun by the infected. There was an isolated group of survivors living in Lindisfarne island. One day, scavenger Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) brought his 12 year old son Spike (Alfie Williams) across the tidal causeway to the mainland for a coming-of-age ritual of hunting down infecteds, some of whom had mutated into giant Alphas.
Spike had a different mission in mind -- to find a doctor for his mother Isla (Jodie Comer) who had been mysteriously ill for some time. Upon his successful return to their island with his father, Spike brought his mother to the mainland himself to search for the reclusive survivor Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) for a possible treatment. Along the way, they encountered a Swedish soldier Erik (Edvin Ryding) and helped a pregnant infected (Celi Crossland) give birth.
This new sequel comes 18 years after the first sequel "28 Weeks Later" (2007). The first film "28 Days Later" (2002) is now considered a horror classic that revived interest for zombie films in the new millennium. The original creators of this first film -- director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland -- are both back on board to continue the tale they first told. Garland wrote this to be the first film of a new trilogy, with a sequel already set for release by January 2026.
Of course, there were still the blood-splattering scenes of our heroes Jamie and Spike shooting arrows into the heads or hearts of attacking infecteds. We are also introduced to the mutant infecteds called Alphas, physically bigger and supposedly more intelligent variants. In particular, there was one Alpha called Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) with his imposing size (and appendage), whose kill style was ripping off his victim's head and spine.
When Spike and Isla finally meet Dr. Kesler, the tone shifted radically to a more sober, contemplative tone. We see the grisly tower of skulls seen in the posters, and learn of its significance. For those wondering what that 2002 flashback prologue about vicar's son Jimmy was all about, the answer would only be revealed at the very end when Spike met grown-up Jimmy (Jack O'Connell), whom I guess we'll see more of in the coming sequels. 7/10
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