28 Years Later Review: A Gritty Return to Apocalypse Cinema

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The Verdict: A Sharp, Intimate Return

The rage is back. And this time, it’s personal, punchy, and – somehow — shot on iPhones.

Boyle’s Unexpected, Yet Effective, Comeback

Danny Boyle didn’t have to return. Honestly, he probably shouldn’t have. 28 Days Later already changed the game once. Then 28 Weeks Later built it bigger, nastier, faster. But now here we are, almost three decades deep into viral chaos, and guess what? Boyle still has tricks up his sleeve. Old ones, sure — but sharpened, reframed, and made to sting.

Evolving Cinematic Homages: “Bullet Time” Reimagined

“Bullet time” without the bullets? It happens. Literally. Early on in 28 Years Later, there’s a slow-motion sequence that would’ve made 1999 jaws drop. You know the one — high contrast, body in motion, time slowing just as panic sets in. But instead of dodging bullets, it’s something more grounded. More tragic. More human. It’s a subtle flex from Boyle, nodding to cinema history while twisting it into this gritty apocalypse. And yeah, if you’re old enough, you’ll feel that little jolt of recognition. This isn’t nostalgia bait — it’s evolution.

Story & Themes: Inherited Trauma in a Brutal World

The story this time? Still bleak. Still brutal. But layered. A new generation wrestles with the fallout of old sins, and while the Rage virus hasn’t mellowed with age, the people fighting it have changed. Smarter? Maybe. More desperate? Definitely. There’s a sense of inherited trauma here, like everyone’s been born under a sky that’s always just about to rain blood.

Standout Performance: Alfie Williams Anchors the Chaos

Enter Alfie Williams as Spike. He doesn’t just anchor the film — he hauls it. There’s weight in every glance, every sprint, every second he spends not speaking. This is a performance built on pressure. Spike isn’t trying to be a hero, but he keeps getting pushed into the fire, and Williams makes you feel the burn

The iPhone Factor: Gritty, Intimate Cinematography

And here’s where things get wild: this was shot on iPhones. Sure, they’re rigged up with external lenses and stabilizers, but the bones of it? All Apple. And it works. The smaller footprint gives the film a weird intimacy. When the camera rushes through stairwells or crouches behind rubble, it feels there — closer to documentary than blockbuster. The texture is grimy, immediate. You could practically smell the sweat.

A Lean, Kinetic Franchise Entry

As a third entry, 28 Years Later doesn’t reinvent the franchise, but it doesn’t need to. It expands the world just enough, hints at what’s still festering beneath the surface, and delivers a few standout sequences that remind you why Boyle’s still one of the most kinetic directors working today. And it’s lean. No bloated runtime. No endless exposition dumps. Just survival, stripped bare.

Conclusion: A Rewarding Chapter for Fans

Is it perfect? No. Some character arcs fizzle, and not every set piece lands. But for fans of the series — and anyone curious about how far you can push a franchise without breaking it — this is a satisfying, stylish return. And yeah, bullet time is back. You just weren’t expecting it to look this raw. If you’ve stuck with this world from the beginning, 28 Years Later rewards your loyalty. It’s a fitting next chapter that doesn’t try to outdo the originals — it just keeps the fire burning.

28 Years Later is in theaters June 20, 2025 (United States)

Details

• Rating Certificate: R (for strong bloody violence, grisly images, graphic nudity, language and brief sexuality.)
• Studios & Distributors: Sony | Columbia Pictures | TSG Entertainment | Sony Pictures Releasing
• Director: Danny Boyle
• Written By: Alex Garland
• Country: United Kingdom | USA
• Language: English
• Run Time: 115 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 2.76:1
• Release Date: 20 June 2025