Reel Review: 28 Years Later

It begins like it means business.

The first act of 28 Years Later is all tension and unease—quiet dread, sharp visuals, and a slow-burn urgency that promises something special. Danny Boyle wastes no time dropping us into a world that feels bruised, dangerous, and on the verge of unraveling. For a moment, it looks like this sequel might actually stick the landing.

But then… it doesn’t.

Once the setup ends, the film drifts. Scenes don’t build—they pile up. The pacing loses direction, and the story starts to feel like it’s being made up as it goes—the energy drains, and with it, the sense of purpose.

Jodie Comer does her best to hold it together. She’s committed and vulnerable, giving the film more weight than the script deserves. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is solid but sidelined by weak writing. Jack O’Connell is in and out so fast you’d think it was a cameo.

To its credit, the film looks and sounds great. The cinematography is stark and immersive, and Boyle still knows how to build mood. But the atmosphere only carries you so far when the narrative starts to wobble.

There are echoes of the original’s themes—survival, trust, what it means to rebuild—but they barely surface before the film moves on to something else. It’s watchable. It’s just not memorable.

Mitten’s verdict: 28 Years Later opens with purpose but fades fast. A promising start leads to a patchwork finish. The rage still burns—but the story doesn’t. Rated: 6 out of 10.