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28 Years Later – A Drama Disguised in Horror Clothing

I really liked 28 Days Later. It’s one of those rare horror films that truly redefined the genre. 28 Weeks Later was...fine. So, when 28 Years Later was announced, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Would it recapture the bleak tension of the original? Would it go full action like its predecessor? What we got instead was something very different—a dramatic adventure story with zombies in the background, and I’m honestly torn about it.

Image by Rotten Tomatoes

Great Performances, Strong Characters

Let’s start with the good: the acting is solid across the board. The cast really brings a sense of humanity to the story. The characters are fleshed out, and their motivations make sense. The story, which focuses on a father-son relationship, has some genuine emotional weight behind it and serves as a metaphor for growing up and confronting harsh realities. It’s well done and honestly refreshing to see male characters that are actually useful in a post-apocalyptic world for once. They play pivotal roles instead of just screaming or dying early.

Image by People.com

The Horror Takes a Backseat

Now the issue: this is a movie in the 28 Days Later universe, and with that comes certain expectations. You want dread. You want intensity. You want rage-fueled zombies tearing across the screen like rabid monsters. Instead, what we get is a slower-paced, more introspective adventure. Yes, there are infected scenes, but they’re sporadic and surprisingly tame. The outbreak feels minimized—almost like an afterthought. The world feels small. The threat never really looms large. And that, in this universe, feels like a misstep.
Image by Reddit

Zombie Evolution – A Double-Edged Sword

I’ll give the movie credit for addressing one major issue: how have these zombies survived for 28 years? They offer an explanation that’s decent enough, and the evolving infected concept is interesting on paper. But here’s the problem—when your monsters start becoming too intelligent or mutated, they stop feeling like zombies and start feeling like something else entirely. It’s the same issue Land of the Dead had. The more they evolve, the less threatening they become in that chaotic, uncontrollable way we associate with zombies.
Image by Screen Rant

Plot Holes and Pacing Woes

The pacing is okay overall, but there are scenes that feel jagged and oddly placed. A key plot thread revolves around getting to “the only doctor left” who can help the family. And let’s talk about that—why is there only one doctor? And why does the movie build him up so much, only for him to appear in a small 15-minute window before being shuffled off-stage? It feels like buildup with no real payoff. It’s a letdown in a story that otherwise tries to be thoughtful.
Image by Metro

The Ending That Shouldn’t Have Been

And then there’s the ending. Oh boy. It reeks of studio interference and the desperate desire to keep the franchise alive. The final scene—clearly meant to leave things open for a sequel—falls completely flat. It undercuts everything that came before it and left me asking, “Wait, what was the point of all this?” If they had just cut that ending entirely, the film would’ve landed so much stronger. Instead, it limps across the finish line trying to tease more story that, frankly, doesn’t need to be told.
Image by Daily Express

Final Score: 5/10

There are bones here. Some decent ideas. A solid emotional core. But this isn’t the 28 Days Later sequel most fans were probably hoping for. It’s a genre shift that doesn’t quite stick the landing. Not horrible. Not amazing. Just... meh. If you’re looking for more of the rage-infused horror the franchise is known for, this isn’t it.

Pros:

✅ Strong acting, especially the father/son dynamic
✅ Thoughtful character development
✅ Attempts to evolve the universe and infected lore
✅ Decent emotional depth

Cons:

❌ Horror elements feel muted and secondary
❌ Evolving zombies feel less threatening
❌ Pacing issues and underwhelming doctor subplot
❌ Terrible “sequel-bait” ending that cheapens the experience

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