The end of 28 Years Later, explained
WARNING: Spoilers for 28 Years Later ahead!
In 28 Years Later, we meet the inhabitants of Holy Island, a small stronghold off the coast of mainland England that has created a little safe haven from the rage virus. A causeway separates the island from the quarantined area, passable by foot only when the tide is low. Jaime (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) takes his son, Spike (Alfie Williams) onto the mainland to fulfill some sort of rite-of-passage zombie hunting for the young 12-year-old. They, of course, run into some trouble -- to include the seemingly much-evolved "alpha" zombies that are stronger, smarter and faster -- but make it back home (after one of the most intense, heart-pounding scenes in the movie).
During the post-hunt celebrations, Spike catches his dad cheating on his mom, sending the boy spiraling. The mother, played wonderfully by Jodie Comer, has been suffering migraines and bouts of memory loss episodes. Spike then hatches a plan to sneak his mother out to find the rumored Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) and see if he can't help heal her.
Along their travels, there are many close calls and a couple new friends. They eventually meet Dr. Kelson, who has dedicated his post-apocalyptic life to trying to memorialize those that have lost their lives. It's a truly remarkable look into life and humanity and grief.
Spike eventually lands on a decision to remain on the mainland to try and find himself, but the movie closed with a perplexing sequence that, honestly, ran counter to the vibes and tone of the rest of the story. In the very beginning of the movie, we see a group of children watching Teletubbies as the rage virus starts to spread. One of the boys, Jimmy Crystal, escapes to find his father in the church. Before his dad sacrifices himself to the zombies (he thinks they're sent from the divine), he gives Jimmy his cross and tells him to hide.
We don't see Jimmy for the next hour and 45 minutes or so, but he's hinted at through ominous carvings of his name both in an infected and on a wall that Spike passes. It looks like the movie is wrapping up, but a group of infected starts to overwhelm Spike. Suddenly, Jimmy (Jack O'Connell) appears on a ledge with blond hair and a track suit offering to help. His army of track-suited fighters defeat the infected in a wildly tonally different scene from the rest of the movie.
The costuming of Jimmy and his henchmen seems to reference the disgraced Jimmy Savile, a once-popular television host in the UK. After Savile's death in 2011, horrifying stories of his abusive and predatory behavior emerged, including the sexual abuse of minors.
If you consider the world ended for young Jimmy Crystal in 2002, the vile offenses of his idol Jimmy Savile would have never been revealed. The use of this specific imagery -- the blond wigs and track suits like Savile used to wear -- was intentional by Boyle and Garland. We don't get a lot of information about Jimmy Crystal in this world, it's clear he's not a good guy and someone that should be feared. The idea that even in a world where Savile isn't known for his evil that someone still emerges as evil in his absence is so startlingly dark.
A follow up film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is already in post-production. The movie is directed by Nia DaCosta and set to release January 16, 2026. It is supposed to bring back O'Connell, Williams and Fiennes as the story continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Tyrant
7 hours ago
- Geek Tyrant
Hideo Kojima Shares Thoughts on 28 YEARS LATER and Its Bigger Meaning — GeekTyrant
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Years Later hit theaters this weekend, and like the infected tearing through mainland Britain, it's sparked a fierce wave of divided reactions. Some are praising it as a unique, punk-rock, and thought-provoking return to the rage virus saga, while others are scratching their heads at its direction, especially that ending, which I loved, by the way. One fan who definitely leaned into admiration is Hideo Kojima. The legendary Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator recently took to social media to share his thoughts on the film, and unsurprisingly, he went deeper than most. Kojima didn't just see it as a horror movie, he saw a layered, meta commentary on the state of the world and a meditation on generational trauma. Here's what Kojima had to say: 'I watched '28 Years Later.' It was a 'Danny Boyle x Alex Garland movie' with themes and visuals, drama, music, etc. that sets it apart from other so-called zombie movies. From '28 Days' to '28 Years.' 'It's been 23 years since the first movie was released. The world and the state of affairs have changed drastically. Everyone today, who experienced the pandemic, understands that it is not realistic to limit a pandemic to the UK alone. Alex understands that, too. 'Therefore, this is not a film about a pandemic; it is a meta-film that warns of an isolated Britain and a divided world. It is also a story of Jimmy growing up under his strict father. 'I wonder if the next film will be a contrasting story of a man with an upbringing unlike Jimmy's (father and country-less). Cillian Murphy also served as executive producer.' Kojima's take highlights how the film isn't just another rage-fueled bloodbath. It's a reflection of how the world has changed. The fear of infection is still there, but the focus has shifted. In the film, 'It's been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. 'One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.' Shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max with the aide of numerous specialized attachments, the movie stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Jack O'Connell, Erin Kellyman, and Ralph Fiennes.' This is the first of two movies in the 28 Years Later trilogy, both have already been filmed. Boyle directed the first installment, while Nia DaCosta ( Candyman, The Marvels ) directed the second, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple . Whether you loved the film or not, it's always fascinating to get Kojima's read on things.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Basing a '28 Years Later' character on Jimmy Savile was 'masterful,' the actor who plays Samson the Alpha said
"28 Years Later" introduces a cult leader inspired by Jimmy Savile, a BBC star outed as a prolific abuser. Chi Lewis-Parry, who played an infected Alpha in the film, called the character "masterful." "It's hard to come up with something original," he told BI. Fans of "28 Years Later" were divided by the ending that introduces Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), a cult leader who bears more than a passing resemblance to Jimmy Savile, the BBC presenter outed as a prolific sexual abuser after his death in 2011. In an interview with Business Insider in June, the film's respective director and producer, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, confirmed that the character is based on Savile. Chi Lewis-Parry, who plays Samson, a new, super-strong type of the infected called an Alpha, told BI that he thinks introducing Crystal was a bold decision but said "you have to test the boundaries." Boyle has always challenged audiences with his films, including "28 Days Later" and "Trainspotting," a dark comedy about people in Glasgow addicted to heroin. In the world of "28 Years Later," the Rage Virus would have broken out before Savile's crimes could be unearthed. It seems likely the sequel, "The Bone Temple," will explore this further. Lewis-Parry said: "It's hard to come up with something original" in the horror genre. "Introducing that character is a different type of horror. It's taking real horror and sticking it in a fantasy horror scenario. I think that's masterful because you're not just relying on the jump scares and the stereotypical gore. "You are kind of teasing the psyche of an audience with a real-life horror that has been discovered," he added. "For me, it's almost scarier because that really happened. Whatever you attach to that character is the fear element. I think it's brilliant, personally." Boyle and Garland told BI how Crystal's scenes in "28 Years Later" set up the sequel. Garland said the bizarre cult leader taps into bigger themes of a "misremembered past" and "how selective memory is." O'Connell will no doubt have a larger presence in the second film as Crystal, while Lewis-Parry will reprise his role as Samson. BI previously reported how Lewis-Parry said he scared Boyle into casting him in the role during his audition. Lewis-Parry teased that fans "might fall in love with Samson," but didn't reveal any plot points, adding: "it's magical when you watch something and know nothing about any surprises." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
11 hours ago
- Business Insider
Basing a '28 Years Later' character on Jimmy Savile was 'masterful,' the actor who plays Samson the Alpha said
Fans of " 28 Years Later" were divided by the ending that introduces Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), a cult leader who bears more than a passing resemblance to Jimmy Savile, the BBC presenter outed as a prolific sexual abuser after his death in 2011. In an interview with Business Insider in June, the film's respective director and producer, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, confirmed that the character is based on Savile. Chi Lewis-Parry, who plays Samson, a new, super-strong type of the infected called an Alpha, told BI that he thinks introducing Crystal was a bold decision but said "you have to test the boundaries." Boyle has always challenged audiences with his films, including "28 Days Later" and "Trainspotting," a dark comedy about people in Glasgow addicted to heroin. In the world of "28 Years Later," the Rage Virus would have broken out before Savile's crimes could be unearthed. It seems likely the sequel, " The Bone Temple," will explore this further. Jack O'Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal and his cult in 28 YEARS LATER behind the scenes set photo #28YearsLater — Culture Base (@Culture3ase) June 21, 2025 Lewis-Parry said: "It's hard to come up with something original" in the horror genre. "Introducing that character is a different type of horror. It's taking real horror and sticking it in a fantasy horror scenario. I think that's masterful because you're not just relying on the jump scares and the stereotypical gore. "You are kind of teasing the psyche of an audience with a real-life horror that has been discovered," he added. "For me, it's almost scarier because that really happened. Whatever you attach to that character is the fear element. I think it's brilliant, personally." Boyle and Garland told BI how Crystal's scenes in "28 Years Later" set up the sequel. Garland said the bizarre cult leader taps into bigger themes of a "misremembered past" and "how selective memory is." O'Connell will no doubt have a larger presence in the second film as Crystal, while Lewis-Parry will reprise his role as Samson. BI previously reported how Lewis-Parry said he scared Boyle into casting him in the role during his audition. Lewis-Parry teased that fans "might fall in love with Samson," but didn't reveal any plot points, adding: "it's magical when you watch something and know nothing about any surprises."
