“28 Years Later”: Zombie Thriller Returns to Terrify Audiences

Updated June 19, 2025
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Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are back with more sprinting zombies in⁢ “28 Years ⁣Later,” a new installment in the⁣ post-apocalyptic horror ⁢series ⁢that began with “28⁤ Days Later” in 2002. The original ‌film depicted the rapid breakdown of society after a “rage” virus escaped⁤ a lab, turning people into aggressive, ⁤fast-moving zombies. Boyle’s innovative use of digital technology allowed for guerrilla-style filming in deserted London ⁤streets.

Set⁢ on Holy Island off the northeast coast ⁣of England, the film portrays a community that has isolated itself from the zombie-ridden mainland. this self-sufficient​ group grows its own food and brews its own beer,​ maintaining a distance from⁤ the lawless quarantine zone. The ⁤mainland is‌ overrun with zombies and unculled deer.

The men of Holy Island conduct foraging​ expeditions to the mainland, using bows and arrows to kill zombies. Among them is 12-year-old Spike, played by Alfie Williams. Spike’s mother, Isla ‍(Jodie Comer), suffers from an unknown illness. Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Spike’s father, takes ⁢him on a trip to the⁤ mainland, a rite of passage. Spike becomes fixated on rumors of a doctor living in the perilous zone, leading ⁤him to defy the island’s rules and venture out with his mother in search ‌of a cure.

The film hints at the community’s regression into a fortress mentality, reminiscent‌ of a stone-age version ⁣of⁢ the 1950s. Though, the narrative shifts to the mainland for action sequences involving firearms. The film also ⁤features cameo appearances that​ inject a graphic-novel-like strangeness into the storyline.

what’s next

“28 ​Years Later” promises a blend of folk horror, satire,⁣ and intense action, continuing the saga of fast-moving zombies and the struggle for‍ survival in‍ a world overrun by the infected. The film opens in Australia on ⁣June 19 and in the U.S. and U.K. on June 20.