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Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
28 Years Later review: zombie franchise returns with a groggy start
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Just about any list of the greatest zombie movies of all time is sure to include Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Days Later. So naturally there was a lot of excitement around the two returning for the latest sequel in the series, 28 Years Later. But does the 2025 new movie live up to its predecessor? Meh. 28 Years Later is an up and down experience. It features some of the gruesome zombie action that many fans likely desire, as well as a handful of sincerely beautiful moments. However the movie's highs don't quite reach the same level of the original movie, while some of the lows are either a bit boring or outright baffling (the ending being the biggest evidence of the latter). 28 Years Later takes place nearly three decades after the outbreak depicted in the first movie, focusing on an entirely new set of characters (rumors that Cillian Murphy would appear in this one were shot down, though he is reportedly set to appear in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, coming out in 2026). In this one, 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams), who has spent his entire life on an island protected from the infected, makes his first trip to the UK mainland with his dad (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). When Spike learns that a mysterious doctor (Ralph Fiennes) is close, he decides to take his ailing mother (Jodie Comer) to see if he can help; if they can survive the infected first. Williams' Hollywood debut is a memorable one, as the young actor steals the movie as Spike. It's an effective choice to reintroduce this world through the eyes of a child, with Williams' effectively portraying Spike's growth as he comes to understand real horrors and hard truths. Fiennes also gives a good, supporting performance, bringing the emotional heart of the movie. Comer has a few touching moments, but I wouldn't rank this among her best. In terms of the movie's action, those who want to see gore will get a good bit of it in 28 Years Later, both humans killing zombies and zombies killing humans. Boyle and his editors also kept some of that gritty, hectic style for the action that the first movie had. Though in some instances, they may have taken it too far. Mostly relevant in the movie's first half, there are editing choices (both visually and audially) that don't make a whole lot of sense. They add a creepy, unsettling element to the movie, sure, but they don't fit naturally with the story that we are seeing unfold, or are unnecessary, jarring jumps that take you somewhat out of the moment. And if we're talking about being taken out of the moment, the ending is the chief culprit. I won't get into the details, but the movie feels like it is settling on a natural and generally satisfying conclusion before it introduces something completely off the wall that is wholly inconsistent with what we've just watched. It left me scratching my head as I was leaving the theater. 28 Years Later has the basis of a solid story and characters, with a few standouts in Williams and Fiennes. But the movie only reaches its highest potential in a few moments, while a number of the stylistic choices from Boyle are more curious oddities than compelling features. All in all, 28 Years Later opens the door for a potentially interesting story to be continued with its set follow-up and a potential third movie, but judging just on its own, it's a middling start. 28 Years Later opens exclusively in movie theaters on June 20. Solve the daily Crossword
Tatler Asia
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Movie review: Danny Boyle's ‘28 Years Later' redefines the zombie genre anew
Above We're introduced to Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his son Spike (Alfie Williams) Here, civilisation has adapted in curious ways. Education has shifted from algebra and history to archery, surveillance duty at the watch tower and foraging. We're introduced to Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his son Spike (Alfie Williams) on what the father dubs the boy's 'big day': his first time outside the camp. Spike is only 12—two years shy of the island's mandated age for venturing beyond the barricades—but Jamie, with defiant parental pride, defies the rules. He even gifts his son a rare strip of bacon, a delicacy in this world. Jodie Comer delivers a sharp, brittle performance as Isla, Spike's mother, who is suffering from a mysterious sickness that's left her increasingly disoriented. She opposes the mission with ferocity, at one point branding her husband a 'child murderer' for dragging their son into danger. Yet the boy, deeply devoted to his ailing mother, lies and says he is just going to school. He also tucks away the prized bacon to give to her later. Outside the safety of their community, Spike begins to grasp the brutal reality beyond their island: betrayal, cruelty and unspeakable violence, often perpetrated by the living rather than the undead. The infected themselves have changed, too. Boyle offers up a grotesque variety—some feral and unclothed, others bloated, some crawling on all fours, feeding on worms. It's not just a new generation of zombies; it's an evolution. Spike's first venture beyond their fortress mirrors the audience's own experience, as we too are seeing for the first time what has become of Boyle's world years after the last outbreak. Related: Can Disney's 'Snow White' heal your inner child? Above Spike's first venture beyond their fortress mirrors the audience's own experience Enter the 'Alpha': a towering figure who decapitates his prey. This new leader of the infected is not only powerful but calculating, a stark departure from the mindless mobs of previous instalments. His behaviour suggests strategic awareness, including the ability to navigate the tides and pursue prey back to the island. Amongst these discoveries, Spike glimpses a distant campfire and inquires after its owner. Jamie tells him it belongs to a doctor, a figure who may hold the key to his mother's recovery. The revelation plants a seed in the boy's mind. Above Unlike its predecessors, '28 Years Later' is not content to be merely a horror film. Back on the island, their return is marked by a celebratory feast. But tension simmers when Spike catches his father with another woman. The next morning, they clash, with the latter accusing his father of withholding the doctor's whereabouts to preserve his newfound relationship. Fuelled by heartbreak and resolve, Spike takes drastic action. He distracts the guards, evades the watchtower and leads his confused mother off the island, determined to seek the estranged doctor himself. Their escape leads them to a gasoline station shrouded in toxic fumes, where they're rescued by Erik (Edvin Ryding), a Navy officer stationed in the region. From here, the narrative takes a slight tonal detour, drifting into light-hearted exchanges between Erik—who casually references WiFi access and flashes a working smartphone—and Spike, who is utterly bewildered by such foreign concepts. See also: On feminist approach: A review of Yorgos Lanthimo's 'Poor Things' Above Erik (Edvin Ryding), a Navy officer The humour gives the film some breathing room, offering the occasional laugh, but at times feels like it's cutting through the tension rather than complementing it. For a while, it's genuinely fun, but the tone starts to wobble, and things begin to feel a little disjointed. One moment, in particular, stands out for all the wrong reasons. Erik shows Spike a photo of his girlfriend, only for the script to mock her appearance, hinting at cosmetic surgery with a not-so-subtle jab. It's meant to be a joke, but instead comes off as oddly mean-spirited, especially when directed at a woman. Later on, Erik joins Spike and Isla on their journey, travelling through an abandoned train carriage. It's here that things take a darker turn. Isla spots a female infected who appears to be in labour. Tensions flare when Erik demands the baby be abandoned, convinced it's also carrying the virus. The shouting attracts the Alpha, who bursts in and, in a shockingly swift moment, decapitates Erik. What follows is a frantic chase, with Isla, Spike and the newborn fleeing through the wreckage. Just when all hope seems lost, the mysterious doctor finally makes his appearance. He's covered in iodine—apparently the virus can't stand the stuff—and manages to tranquilise the Alpha just in time. 'Memento Mori' Above Dr Ian Kelson honours the dead in '28 Years Later' Above Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) in '28 Years Later' Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) offers a warm and comforting presence amid the film. Upon examining the newborn—uninfected despite being born of the infected—he theorises that the infected mother's placenta may have acted as a barrier, shielding the infant from the virus. It offers a flicker of hope for a potential cure in the future instalments. Much like The Last of Us , where Ellie's immunity is traced back to the circumstances of her birth, this subtle nod to scientific possibility adds a layer of intrigue. Back at his camp, Dr Kelson performs a solemn ritual. He cremates Erik's body, but not before salvaging the skull. The fires that have long burned in the distance are not fuelled by destruction, but by reverence. The doctor collects skulls—infected or not—as a way of honouring those lost. Here, he speaks to Spike about the philosophy of memento mori —'remember that you must die,' a reminder that mortality, far from diminishing life's value, gives it weight and urgency. It's a moment of unexpected stillness, deepened by the revelation that Isla is terminally ill, her mind failing due to a cancerous brain tumour. Above Dr Ian Kelson, Isla with the baby and Spike Above Jodie Comer delivers a sharp, brittle performance as Isla, Spike's mother, who is suffering from a mysterious sickness that's left her increasingly disoriented. Overwhelmed by grief and helplessness, Spike lashes out, unable to accept that nothing more can be done. Kelson sedates him, gently guiding the boy into a dreamlike flashback of better times: he and his mother, together and embracing. The doctor whispers a quiet counterpoint— memento vivere —'remember to live.' It's a moment that lands with emotional heft, a tender reminder that love and memory endure, even as life fades. Kelson later euthanises Isla and adds her skull to his growing shrine. He invites Spike to choose her resting place. The boy places it atop the skeletal tree, where it faces the morning light. In the film's closing moments, Spike returns to the settlement alone, carrying the newborn child. In a handwritten note, he reveals the infant's origin. He asks that she be named 'Isla,' in tribute to the mother he lost, and the hope that may yet survive her. Read also : Does Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' live-action remake do justice to the original? The Final Bite Above Tension builds in Danny Boyle's '28 Years later' It's almost impossible not to hold this third instalment up against its lauded forerunners. Unlike its predecessors, 28 Years Later is not content to be merely a horror film. There are philosophical undercurrents, moments of lyrical tenderness and yes, awkward attempts at humour. Boyle's return to the franchise offers a bold but bumpy comeback…depending on your appetite for 'genre-bending'. The infected have evolved, no longer the mindless aggressors we once knew. These creatures display social organisation and even hygiene. They bathe, breed and have begun constructing a primitive society. What made the zombie genre so darkly entertaining in the first place was its moral simplicity—you killed the infected without a second thought. Those guilt-free, head-smashing thrills are gone. Instead, the film quietly challenges our appetite for violent spectacle. Related : 'Hello, Love, Again' shows us the struggles of being an OFW under the backdrop of a love story Above The zombies are seemingly sentient in '28 Years Later' The cinematography is starkly beautiful, the performances are firmly grounded and the soundtrack fits each scene perfectly. Yet, there's a nagging feeling that something crucial has slipped through the cracks. The raw terror, the primal adrenaline rush, the straightforward satisfaction of a well-timed zombie kill. The film could have also done more with its setting, which too often drifts into sprawling forests that take up nearly 60 per cent of the screen time, rather than embracing the gritty post-apocalyptic feel fans might expect. The introduction of an 'Alpha' who is eerily intelligent and disturbingly human forces viewers into an unexpected moral dilemma, yet it holds the promise of reshaping the zombie genre for another 20 years. The question is, is it still entertainment when the undead become sentient? NOW READ 'A Minecraft Movie': when a video game adaptation gets it right 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' is one last blaze of glory How to build an apocalypse-ready home: 5 essential design strategies for disaster resilience Credits Images: Columbia Pictures
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Think 28 Years Later's Ending Has A Subtle, Twisted Pop Culture Reference That Americans May Have Missed
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Warning, there are spoilers ahead for 28 Years Later, which finally hit the 2025 movie schedule in mid-June. The ending of 28 Years Later has been discussed a lot. Not only does it bring the movie full circle from the opening scene, but it throws in a few pop culture references, and provides a 'hand off' to the sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is already on the 2026 movie schedule. There is one pop culture reference that American audiences may have missed, and it involves one of the worst scandals in British entertainment history. That of Jimmy Savile, the now-disgraced (and deceased) DJ and TV personality. Let's get into it. In the final scene of 28 Years Later, Spike (Alfie Williams) has written home to his father to explain that he's taking off to be on his own for a while. As he sits on the side of a road and contemplates his next move, Spike is suddenly surrounded by Infected. As he readies himself to do battle, he's joined by 'Sir' Jimmy, played wonderfully by Jack O'Connell, and Jimmy's band of tracksuit-wearing warriors. The multi-colored tracksuits provide a nice callback to the beginning of the movie when we see Jimmy watching Teletubbies on TV as the Rage virus starts to take hold of Great Britain, 28 years before the central events of the film. It's also a nice callback to a scene where Spike decides against bringing his Power Ranger action figure on his first trip to the mainland. Those are both references that anyone in the United Kingdom and the United States would recognize right away. The third part of the reference, the tracksuits, Jimmy's haircut, and, indeed, his name, would be immediately recognizable to British audiences, but maybe not American ones. To me (and to many other eagle-eyed viewers), the reference to the notorious Jimmy Savile is obvious. Savile, who died in 2011, was the most famous DJ on Radio One for decades. He also hosted Top Of The Pops and his own show, Jimmy'll Fix It, a sort of Make-A-Wish Foundation kind of show. He was as famous for his charitable work as he was for his radio and TV presenting. That all changed after he died, and hundreds of accusations of Savile sexually abusing children came out publicly. Today, his reputation is completely disgraced as victim after victim has told their stories. So, why would writer Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle make reference to such a despicable person? Well, that's a little complicated, but it makes sense. This all started as a discussion on social media, and it has since been confirmed by Danny Boyle. Garland and Boyle have talked about how the movie is looking back in some ways. Remember, we're 28 years out from the Rage virus outbreak, so theoretically, in the world of 28 Years Later, the horrible acts committed by Savile were never revealed, and he was still thought of as a beloved DJ and TV presenter. This theory is reinforced by the use of the song 'Delilah' by Tom Jones, which used to be a staple on British radio but has been culturally canceled in recent years due to its problematic lyrics promoting violence against women. Again, in the world of 28 Years Later, that never happened, so the song's reputation has not suffered its true fate. While Savile's story is very well known in the UK, but, aside from a few documentaries, it wasn't a very big one in the United States. Many Americans may not fully get the reference, though some certainly will. If you've made it this far and haven't seen 28 Weeks Later, what are you waiting for? CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes gave the movie a 5-star review, and it's definitely one of my favorite movies of the year, as well.
Daily Mirror
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
I'm still reeling after watching the horror film everyone's talking about
28 Years Later is a sequel to the popular 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later films, and has left viewers terrified, shocked and confused - all in equal measure. When 28 Days Later first hit the screens in 2002, I was just six years old - far too young to appreciate the intense, psychological pseudo-zombie horror filled with sprinting infected spewing blood and driven by the Rage Virus. However, as a teenager, I developed a fascination for the film and its less acclaimed sequel, 28 Weeks Later - which, in my view, boasts the best opening scene of any zombie film ever. So, you can imagine my thrill when I learnt that director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland were returning in 2025 with the third chapter of the franchise, 28 Years Later. This sequel deviates significantly from the previous films, and personally, I think this is a positive move. In the film, 28 years have elapsed since the Rage virus ravaged the UK. Mainland Britain has been quarantined, leaving those outside the island to grapple with the hordes of infected who range from the typical sprinting zombies made famous in the initial films to the swollen bloated infected who drag themselves across the forest floor surviving on worms. The introduction of these infected is utterly terrifying - the foley sound effect of these corpse-like creatures slurping down worms will echo in my mind for weeks. There's also another new type of infected - an Alpha. This monstrous zombie appears capable of critical thinking, making him a formidable foe for the main protagonists - father and son duo Jamie and Spike, portrayed by Aaron Taylor Johnson and Alfie Williams respectively, reports the Express. When Jamie guides Spike from their fortified village on Lindisfarne, across the tidal causeway to the mainland, Spike gets a rapid initiation into zombie hunting and scavenging. Echoing its predecessors, 28 Years Later is as much about family and society as it is about zombies. The plot thickens when Spike learns of a mysterious doctor on the mainland, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, setting off an unparalleled hero's journey. In a desperate bid to find a cure for his mother Isla, brought to life by a brilliantly unhinged Jodie Comer, Spike leaves the safety of the village and his father's influence. He embarks on a perilous journey through the treacherous forest with his hallucinating mother, relentlessly chased by all three types of infected. The emotional bond between Spike and Isla was hidden in the film's promotional material, making its revelation a surprise that adds another layer of terror to the movie. Spike's commitment to finding a cure for his mother forms a central part of the storyline, ratcheting up the tension as the plot unfolds. In her lucid moments, Isla embodies the perfect mother - but she can also succumb to fits of rage and uncontrollable bleeding, eerily similar to the infected they are desperately trying to evade. The entire film is a thrilling ride, with the suspense barely easing off for a moment, culminating in the most unexpected and outlandish ending I've ever witnessed. Boyle and Gardener have already shot the next chapter of the series. 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple is slated for release in January next year, and I'll be there in the cinema on opening day. In conclusion, 28 Years Later is a brilliant extension of the franchise, and it's one of those films that has you insisting all your mates see it too, just so you can collectively ask 'what on earth was that?'.
France 24
27-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Iran arrests 700 'Israeli agents', but where are the weapons?
The reports show men in prison jumpsuits confessing that they were recruited as Israeli spies, along with weapons they were supposedly planning to use. Analysts say the confessions are probably coerced, and an analysis of the images by the FRANCE 24 Observers team found no evidence of any Israeli-made weapons among the supposed seizures. For its part, Iran is attempting to present itself as successfully arresting Israeli operatives and confiscating their weapons. The so-called "seized weapons' and arrested 'Mossad agents' appear to be staged, as there is no credible evidence to substantiate these claims. The 12-day war between Iran and Israel was, among other things, a devastating blow to Iranian intelligence. The Israeli military had precise intelligence on high-ranking generals, allowing them to successfully target and killing of at least 29 of them. And Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, apparently succeeded in recruiting large numbers of Iranians to serve as agents on the ground in the deployment of guided missiles and FPVs. In the days after the initial Israeli attack on June 13, the Iranian authorities showed numerous images of abandoned vehicles and equipment left behind after their use in Israel's attack. They also showed images of spent munitions, including the casings of Israeli-made short-range Spike missiles, along with cars used to transport these missiles and suicide drones deep into Iran, as well as Israeli makeshift drone factories within the country – all of which reveals that Israeli intelligence had successfully recruited and infiltrated Iran on a large scale. The Iranian intelligence services have not, however, shown any conclusive evidence to date of weapons they seized intact, before their deployment by supposed agents inside Iran. The regime in Tehran claims to have arrested 700 Israeli operatives in 12 days, many of whom could potentially face execution. The arrested suspects are accused of planning to use attack drones, building bombs, spying on military sites, and transmitting information to Israel, according to Iranian media. State media also reported that at least six men accused of spying for Israel in the past had been executed since the Israeli attack on June 13. On June 25, Iran executed three Kurdish men—Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad—who had been sentenced to death in 2023 on charges of smuggling assassination tools into the country for Israel. Iran's judiciary reported that three other men – Madjid Mossayebi, Esmaeil Fekri, and Mohammad Amin Shayesteh – had also been executed since June 13. State-affiliated media in Iran have published reports interviewing purported Israeli agents and showcasing 'seized' weapons. However, in two instances where state media have presented images of these confiscated weapons, the photographs appear to be either fake or staged. The first case occurred on June 24, 2025, when the Iranian ministry of intelligence claimed to have seized 402 drones in two cities in southern Iran's Hormozgan province. State media reporting on the seizure broadcast a photograph showing five attack drones with blue batteries. However, the photo is unrelated to Iran. It was taken in Ukraine in May by an Associated Press photographer, and shows attack drones made by the Ukrainian army for use against their Russian enemies. A TV report on the supposed Hormozgan seizure by state broadcaster IRIB used different images. The report showed stacks of commercially available consumer drones in their original packaging, including models that are too small to carry munitions. In a second report, on June 24, state media broadcast images of six men in prison uniforms with their backs to the camera being questioned by a security officer. The men say they had been contacted by Mossad via social media and began cooperating with them. The report also showed a row of various weapons displayed on a table, supposedly seized from the alleged Israeli agents. But nearly all the displayed weapons are manufactured in Iran. The video showed an Iranian-made man-portable air-defence system, the 'Misagh-3'. It also showed an Iranian-made drone, the 'Shahin-1,' recently added to the Iranian military's arsenal. The video also showed two mortar shells, one of which is made in China, and the other in the former Yugoslavia — both of which are commonly found in Iran's military stock. The presence of Iranian-made weapons, coupled with the absence of any Israeli or Western-made arms, raises further suspicion that the arrest and seizure may have been staged. Afghan immigrants new enemies of the state Since the onset of the 12-day war, rumours and reports circulating on social media have suggested that Afghan nationals are cooperating with Israel as foot soldiers. These reports allege that some Afghan immigrants in Iran are engaged in spying, planting bombs, and piloting drones on behalf of the Israeli Mossad. State television has also aired reports of arrested Afghan citizens "confessing" to being Israeli assets, transferring sensitive information, and planning to plant bombs at the direction of their Israeli handlers. According to Iranian media, at least five Afghan nationals have been arrested since the start of the 12-day war. Estimates suggest that between 5 to 8 million Afghan immigrants live in Iran, the majority of whom are considered "illegal" immigrants. In this context, on June 27, Iranian media announced that police had been ordered to deport all illegal Afghan immigrants. The media also reported that renting property to these immigrants would result in the confiscation of the property. While anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran has long been prevalent — especially since the most recent wave of immigration beginning in 2021 — this sentiment has surged dramatically since the 12-day war. Historically, Afghan immigrants in Iran have been targets of attacks over crimes such as theft, rape, and drug-related offenses. However, this marks the first time they have faced accusations of espionage and collaboration with Israel.
