Movie Review: 28 YEARS LATER

Inevitably, when one sits down to catch a film, one has a preconceived notion of what type of film they are going to watch. So, when the film turns into something else, the moviegoer has 2 choices - “roll with it” or “complain that the film wasn’t what you wanted it to be “ (I’m looking at you MCU Fanboys).

Such is the case with 28 YEARS LATER, the 3rd in the “rage virus” series. One would expect a “zombie” film (all right, they are not zombies, but “po-tAY-to, po-TAH-to). But what one gets in 28 YEARS LATER is a study of family and social constructs under stress due to a global apocalypse.

And, darn it, it works very, very well.

One should have expected something different/special as the original Director and Writer of the first 28 DAYS LATER (Danny Boyle and Alex Garland) came back - all these years later - to helm/pen this film.

And…one can see why as Boyle still infuses this film (the first in what is reported to be a new trilogy) with the same frenetic camera work of the original film (when the “rage virus” infected attack), but also layers artistic imagery and many, many moments of calm and reflection amidst the horror of the apocalypse.

So…what we got here is a “Zombie Art House” film - and the BankofMarquis is all for it!

Writer Garland has penned an interesting and rich landscape with characters that are multi-layered and rich while also being terrified and constantly on edge.

The script (and direction) is probably what drew a stellar, strong cast to this effort. Aaron Taylor Johnson (rumored to be the new James Bond), the vastly under-rated Jodie Comer (TV’s KILLING EVE) and young Alfie Williams (in what is his first major screen appearance) anchor this film as the family unit - with all their scars and foibles - that traverse this new reality in a strong, humanistic way. All 3 bring their “A” games to the film and it is richer because of it.

But…it is the work of Oscar Winner Ralph Fiennes (you know, Voldemort in the Harry Potter series) that elevates this film above the norm. His character, Dr. Kelson, is spoken of (but not seen) for the first 2/3 of this film. And when he finally does show up on screen, he fills it with a performance/character not expected from the build-up (or from a character in a “Zombie” film). It is one of the more interesting characters put on screen in quite some time and their is talk of spinning Fiennes/Dr. Kelton into his own “origin story” film - a move that is usually suspect, but is one that the BankofMarquis would be all in for.

Keep in mind that Boyle and Garland still understand that this is a “zombie” film - so there is plenty of gore (and a plot twist that either you roll with or you won’t) but if you accept all that, you’ll be rewarded with a rich, family drama set against the backdrop of the apocalypse.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)