February 20, 2025, “28 Years Later” has not yet been released, so I can’t provide a review based on having seen it. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters on June 20, 2025, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, marking their return to the franchise that began with “28 Days Later” in 2002. Since it’s still in post-production, no critics or audiences have had the chance to review it fully. However, I can give you a preview based on available information and early buzz.
The film is set nearly three decades after the rage virus outbreak, focusing on a group of survivors living on a small island connected to the mainland by a heavily defended causeway. When one of them ventures into the quarantined mainland, they encounter evolved horrors and secrets that have transformed both the infected and other survivors. The cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell, with Cillian Murphy serving as an executive producer, though he won’t appear in this installment.
The first trailer, released in December 2024, has generated significant excitement, trending at #1 on YouTube with over 10 million views in 48 hours. Critics like Stuart Heritage from The Guardian have called it “just about the most exciting film of 2025” based on its haunting mood, set to Rudyard Kipling’s “Boots” poem recited by Taylor Holmes. The visuals suggest a blend of folk horror and the fast-paced infected action the series is known for, sH๏τ innovatively on an iPhone 15 Pro Max by cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle.
Expectations are high given Boyle and Garland’s track record—especially after “28 Days Later” redefined the zombie genre—and the promise of a trilogy, with the sequel “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” already filmed and slated for January 2026. The absence of a strict cutoff from “28 Weeks Later” (2007) means this could either build on or diverge from that narrative, though producer Andrew Macdonald has hinted it’s more of a fresh take than a direct continuation.
Without seeing it, I’d predict “28 Years Later” will lean into atmospheric tension and character-driven survival, potentially exploring how time has warped society and the virus itself. If it delivers on the trailer’s promise, it could be a standout horror-thriller of 2025. Check back after June for a full review once it’s out! What are your hopes for the film?
