REVIEW: 28 YEARS LATER

4/5

Dead Reckoning Part One 

115 Mins. Starring: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams & Ralph Fiennes. Screenplay: Alex Garland. Director: Danny Boyle.

28 social media posts later, nope, that's not Cillian Murphy. And expect the 'Oppenheimer' star and executive producer to react like that viral video of his social battery running out to any more questions on the matter. Although dynamic director Danny Boyle has said he will return to the '28' time stamp series in the future. Until then, we will have to settle for a reunion between Boyle ('The Beach', 'Sunshine', 'Slumdog Millionaire') and screenwriter Alex Garland ('Never Let Me Go', 'Dredd', 'Civil War') for '28 Years Later'. Where does the time, and that 'months' movie go? '28 Days Later', starring Murphy and Naomie Harris, was an instant, guerilla, shot classic. The stars of the future (Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne and Idris Elba) laden sequel, lost Boyle, but did give us 'Trainspotting's' very own Robert Carlyle, until he lost us, running out on his on-screen wife. That sequel, with a bigger budget and screen resolution, was Larry David good, but the enthusiasm is back with the very different 'Years Later'. Perhaps the most meaningful of these movies yet.

Brutal, at times beautiful, brilliant, and at time bonkers, the third film in this trilogy will spawn even more sequels to come (starting with 'The Bone Temple' in January 2026), and none of them have anything to do with a Sandra Bullock romantic comedy (shame). This one, taking on everything from 'The Walking Dead', to 'World War Z', reaffirms the zombie genre as the new vampire one that remains undead. Coincidentally, this comes out in the same weekend that actor/director team Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler's hugely successful 'Sinners' finally finds itself on the shores of Japan...and one of those stars makes an appearance here too, but we've already said too much. '28 Years' stars a bedridden Jodie Comer, following 'Free Guy', 'The Last Duel', and the brilliant 'Bikeriders' with Tom Hardy and Austin Butler. There's something killing Eve, but we don't know what. So, a grizzled hunter with Kraven experience, and potential Bond, Aaron Taylor Johnson (on fine form) heads out with his son for something straight out of 'The Road'. But what's to come with Comer will really move you in her delivery.

Yet for all the zombies, and the little clothes they wear, '28 Years Later', this is a coming of age story. Played perfectly by star of the future, Alfie Williams, in the introduction to his feature-film debut. Not only does this 'Kes' like, "good lad" show strength of character, he's also a dab hand with the bow and arrow, getting his Hawkeye marksmanship on for months, like previous series star, Renner. Alfie amazes, even more than some of the best talents in the business (Comer and Taylor-Johnson). As a matter of fact, the only thing that comes close to Williams, is scene-stealer Ralph Fiennes. On a tear since the 'Conclave' almost decided on him being the next pope, and Oscar winner. Bald and covered in iodine, stacking skulls, this doctor will be prescribed to the next sequel with Williams, and we're sure, Boyle and Garland too. Also, reuniting with Anthony Dod Mantle for some haunting and historical, compelling cinematography. The '28 Days Later' franchise is back like ... and delivers like the special post that's worth waiting for. The post-apocalyptic infection strain is here, at a time when it all seems way too real in this World War U.K. of alphas and fat slobs. Oh, and you'll never watch the 'Teletubbies' in the same way again. But they were always scary. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: '28 Days Later', '28 Weeks Later', 'Sinners'.