28 Years Later (2025) takes a thrilling and intense leap into the future, building on the foundations of its predecessors, 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. Set nearly three decades after the devastating outbreak of the Rage virus that ravaged the UK, the film explores the post-apocalyptic world as humanity struggles to rebuild from the ashes of a civilization left in ruins. A new generation grows up in this harsh reality, and the remnants of the virus still loom as a constant threat. But with the return of the infected, the survivors face a new and terrifying challenge: the Rage virus has mutated, evolving into something far more dangerous and ᴅᴇᴀᴅly.

The film is set in a devastated world where entire regions are still uninhabitable, and what remains of human society is scattered in pockets of resistance. We follow a group of survivors as they embark on a journey across the ruins of Britain to reach a rumored safe haven, but what they find is even more horrifying than they ever imagined. As the mutated virus spreads, it not only turns the infected into more aggressive and intelligent predators but also forces the survivors to confront the moral and psychological toll of living in such a world.

28 Years Later is a masterclass in post-apocalyptic storytelling. The director has crafted a haunting narrative that takes full advantage of the time gap, exploring how society would attempt to move forward in the wake of such a catastrophic event. The film doesn’t just focus on the horror of the infection but also on the emotional and psychological impacts on the survivors who have lived through such trauma. It touches on themes of hope, survival, and the human spirit, but it also delves into the darkness that could take over a fractured world.

The film’s visuals are as bleak and chilling as its predecessor, with wide sH๏τs of ruined cities and forests overtaken by nature, as well as tense close-ups of the survivors fighting for their lives. The mutated infected are both terrifying and grotesque, their new abilities making each encounter even more unpredictable and ᴅᴇᴀᴅly. The tension is palpable throughout, with moments of sheer dread as the survivors must make life-or-death decisions.

The performances are outstanding, with the lead actors bringing a raw, emotional depth to their characters. The evolution of human relationships in a post-apocalyptic world is explored in depth, showing how trust, love, and the will to survive can push people to extremes. The emotional stakes are high, and the audience is left questioning who can truly be trusted when everything is on the line.

The soundtrack is another highlight, expertly enhancing the atmosphere with a mix of eerie silence and tense, pounding beats that keep the audience on edge. The pacing is тιԍнт, with very few slow moments, and the film keeps the suspense high throughout.

In conclusion, 28 Years Later is a powerful, heart-pounding sequel that expands on the terrifying world of its predecessors while introducing new threats and exploring the emotional depth of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s an intense ride from start to finish, and it’s a must-watch for fans of zombie horror and post-apocalyptic stories. This sequel delivers everything fans could want: shocking twists, horrifying monsters, and characters caught in the impossible struggle to maintain their humanity in a world that has lost it.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.