28 recaps later
Covers for the 28 movies (Austin Garcia/The Puma Prensa)
Written By: Austin Garcia, staff writer
A lot can happen in 28 days–the moon completes a cycle, someone learns a habit, someone breaks a habit–how about the start of the apocalypse? On November 1, 2002, the theatrical release of 28 Days Later changed the zombie/apocalypse genre forever by their interpretation of “fast zombies,” a story element never used before, where the infected individuals can run athletically and be more aggressive. This movie would win 10 awards and be nominated for 32 more, proving its worth with its director, Danny Boyle. This success would lead to a sequel directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo in 2007, 28 Weeks Later. Entering the present day, Sony Pictures Entertainment– the mass media and entertainment studio– has recently released the new trailer for 28 Years Later, the third installment of the franchise, and already, it is one of the most anticipated movies of 2025. Though it hasn't been 28 years since the last film, what's the harm in a recap?
Beginning with 28 Days Later, a research lab accidentally releases a virus known as “Rage,” which turns a person into a blood-raging zombie when affected. We follow Jim–played by Cillian Murphy– a bike courier who has been in a coma for four weeks and awakes in a deserted hospital. He ventures out through the empty streets of London, where he finds a group of survivors who explain the apocalyptic state of the city. At this point in the movie, we explore survival and humanity through characters as they encounter the infected, along with survivors, of this epidemic. Throughout the rest of the movie, we witness a darker meaning, not just from the infected but from the desperation and cruelty of the remainder of society. A corrupt military group demonstrates this, where Jim and his allies now find themselves in danger, and a brutal ending occurs, mixing the violence of the infected with human nature to survive at all costs.
The film ends with three survivors, including Jim, who spots a pilot in a plane searching for survivors. Following this finish, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo would direct the sequel 28 Weeks Later in the context of containing the “Rage” virus released in the first film.
The only scene directed by Danny Boyle is the beginning, where we meet a group of survivors holed up in a house until one mistake leads to all of them getting infected within minutes except for one survivor, Don. A safe zone outside London has been established with U.S. soldiers containing the city where Don reunites with his kids. Out of boredom, the children escape quarantine and visit their old home in London, where they find their mother–who got infected in the beginning sequence– immune to the virus. Returning to the city, Don reunites with his wife, who is being tested for her immunity. She accidentally infects Don, who thus becomes patient zero outside of the containment zone. This inevitably leads to the fall of the safe zone and the whole city, except for Don’s children, who manage to escape in hopes of being the key to a cure.
In contrast to the first movie's ending, this one finishes with a shot of the infected spreading across Europe, where they enter Paris, diminishing all hope for humanity and exacerbating the themes of chaos and societal failure of the first film. The series would be on hiatus for almost 18 years until Sony Pictures Entertainment released the trailer for 28 Years Later on December 10, 2024, and re-sparked the fanbase with a two-minute feature of the film, attracting millions of viewers old and new.
So, what's to expect with this new entry? Director and film producer Danny Boyle returned to direct this film and wrapped up filming a couple of months ago. Post-production has now taken over and advertisements will continue to go out until the film’s release on June 20, 2025. With what we have right now with the released trailer and advertising posters, we understand that after over 28 years, the virus has evolved, and humanity has never recovered. An evolution trope is rarely used in zombie movies but is an interesting take, especially for a series like 28 Days Later. Until release, Danny Boyle has a lot to live up to, utilizing this element to its fullest potential and continuing the series' success.