The Mosley Review: 28 Years Later
What separates a franchise from the others? Is it the consistent quality across all the films in said franchise? Is it the experimental and/or inventive ways in which the images are captured? Is it the expansion of the already rich lore and possibilities within the world that was built? Is it making sure the same care that was taken in the original entry returns in the latest entry? The answer to my 20 questions is simply: yes. Not only did the original 28 Days Later change the zombie genre forever, but also it was a evolutionary milestone for the digital format of cinema. The first film gave you a haunting and surreal human story with a healthy amount of sheer terror in its ferocity. The second film wisely explored an infection free idea and how quickly that went south with the same tenacity in the brutal action and unrelenting terror. This film circles back to the tone of the first film and It was truly welcomed. The same offbeat experimental nature is ever present while delivering the intensity the franchise is known for. This was a more dare I say, meditative approach towards human nature and I loved that. It was a smaller scale story that found new ways to explore the virus and its possible human evolutionary properties. I truly dug the story and the multiple character dynamics within the main family and the others you meet along the way.
Alfie Williams was outstanding as Spike. After the insane opening, we get to re-experience this unique world through his eyes for the remainder of the film. Spike's journey was a classic and almost tribal coming of age story that was refreshing and enjoyable. Not only does he learn how to scavenge to survive, but also he goes on an emotionally impulsive story that is both brave and heartbreaking. Alfie is a talented young man and I can't wait to see more of him. Aaron Taylor-Johnson never stops being great and as Alfie's father, Jamie, he was strong and inspiring in the beginning. The classic father and son relationship is explored and it evolves briskly and is rot with turmoil on all sides. The wonderful Jodie Comer dazzles as Jamie's trouble wife and Spike's caring mother, Isla. Comer handles Isla's many levels of mindsets, mood swings and heartbreaking moments of peace gracefully as they were the highlight of the human story in an already stressful world. Its a strained family dynamic that carries you through the film and it was beautiful. Ralph Fiennes delivers a kind, calm and very disarming performance as Dr. Ian Kelson. It's when he shows up the film takes a more harmonic feel and the lore is explored in a fun and subtle way. I loved his section of the film the most as it brought out the scientific and wonderfully spiritual moments of the story. Dr. Kelson was brilliant man that was wrongfully feared in my opinion.
The score by Young Fathers ranged from frightening to spiritual in the best and unpredictable ways possible. It was very unique in the more intense moments of action and very much emotional toward the end of the mid section of the film. Visually, the film was beautiful as it was captured primarily on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It delivered that tangible grit and realism the first film capture using one of the earliest digital cameras of the 2000's. I loved the editing in the zombie kill shots as they implemented the "bullet time" method created for the film Blade and made popular The Matrix films. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland brought us back to a terrifying world that us horror fans have missed while delivering new evolutionary lore and never forgetting its human core. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
