Viewers divided over hit new film 28 Years Later's ‘bananas' ending

News.com.au

4 days ago

WARNING: 28 YEARS SPOILERS AHEAD.
Danny Boyle's long-awaited return to the 28 Days Late r franchise, 28 Years Later, is getting rave reviews since its release last week – but the film's final minutes are leaving viewers divided, fiercely debating whether it's a genius or a terrible end to an otherwise powerful film.
The third film in the series, 28 Years is set – as the name would suggest – 28 years after a 'rage virus' swept England, turning everyone in its path into murderous zombies.
The film tells the story of Spike (Alfie Williams), as he joins his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) on his first trip from their small island home to the mainland, where he'll start practising his skills dispatching the undead.
It's a tense, gory, and at times heart-stopping journey, with some spectacular sequences, including a night time chase as an 'Alpha' zombie tails them all the way back to their fortified island, the pair narrowly escaping a grisly death.
The film takes a sharp turn in its final act to something altogether more contemplative, as Spike ventures to the mainland again, this time with his ailing mother Isla (Jodie Comer), seeking the help of a doctor who's somehow managed to survive out there for all these years (he's played by Ralph Fiennes in a standout role).
But – and here are those spoilers for the very end of 28 Years Later – after what feels like a natural end point to the film, it takes another sharp turn for one final scenes.
Young Spike has decided he still has some growing up to do, and returns once more to the mainland to camp, hunt and live off the land alone.
He's cornered by a bunch of zombies when suddenly, out of nowhere, a whole new gang of (uninfected) people turn up and the film's tone drastically changes.
The gang is run by 'Sir Jimmy Crystal' (Jack O'Connell), dressed in a lairy tracksuit, his hair dyed blonde, and dripping in jewels. His disciples are all dressed in similar uniforms. It's a marked contrast to everyone we've seen so far in the film – from the mostly-naked zombies, their clothes having rotted away, to the inhabitants of the island, all dressed like medieval peasants.
The gang tell Spike to stand back so they can expertly kill off the approaching zombies – which they do with moves that are part Power Rangers, part Monkey Magic (seriously, they spend more time doing backflips and karate chops than actually killing).
The film ends there, with the suggestion that Spike will now fall in with Sir Jimmy and his gang, grateful for their protection.
But it doesn't really feel like Spike's actually found safety, given that everyone in the group, who called themselves 'the Jimmys,' have marked resemblance to Jimmy Savile, a beloved children's TV presenter who was exposed as perhaps one of Britain's most prolific predatory sex offenders after his death in 2011.
That tonally bizarre final two minutes drew puzzled laughter in my screening of the film last week (among them, surely many who didn't make the Savile connection) – and it's proved extremely divisive among viewers.
First – who are the Jimmys?
It appears this wasn't clear to everyone who saw the film, but the key to Sir Jimmy's identity lies in 28 Years Later' s opening scene. It's set back in 2002, as the outbreak first sweeps Britain.
A group of children sit huddled in a living room, Teletubbies on the TV, as their parents fret on the other side of the door about the looming threat of the infected. Suddenly, a zombie breaks into the home and horror sweeps the house, as parents and children quickly succumb to the virus.
One young boy manages to escape and flees to a nearby church, where he takes shelter as the priest is descended on by the infected horde.
That young boy is 'Sir Jimmy Crystal,' 28 years earlier. Viewers have suggested this opening scene not only revealed his identity, but gives a reason for the bizarre look and demeanour of Sir Jimmy and his gang.
If life and culture as you know it stopped in 2002 when you were a small child, but you managed to survive, wouldn't you fight zombies like a Power Ranger? More disturbingly – would you dress you and your gang like Jimmy Savile, still then a beloved children's entertainer, a decade before he was posthumously hit with multiple allegations of sexual offences?
Viewers divided
'The ending of #28YearsLater is so hilariously f**king weird, you guys. I'm legit at a loss for words. So, so weird,' tweeted one viewer.
Another called the final two minutes of the film 'one of the most insane tonal shifts,' while others called it 'bananas.'
'Absolutely dug the f**k out of the bonkers ending. I know it may be divisive for some but I am SOOOOOO here for it!' shared one fan.
Others were less thrilled at the gang of Jimmy Savile Power Rangers saving the day. 'Danny Boyle what the f**k,' was one viewer's succint verdict.
Another called the final scene 'disappointing', while others questioned if the reference would fly over most viewers' heads: 'I didn't expect to watch 28 Years Later & having to research about Jimmy Savile, who I'm assuming the vast majority of non-British viewers have no idea who the hell the man is or what he represents … Such a bananas manner of ending your movie,' tweeted one viewer.
Will there be a sequel?
I at least understood the ending a little better once I left the cinema, Googled the movie and realised that it was in fact a set-up for another film in the franchise – one that's coming very soon.
28 Years Later was shot back-to-back with its sequel, The Bone Temple, which is set to be released on 16 January 2026.
The film will focus on Spike and Sir Jimmy, and will also return OG star Cillian Murphy to the franchise, reprising his role as Jim (yes, another Jim) from the original film.