Ralph Fiennes in “28 Years Later.”
Danny Boyle is back with another zombie thriller with 28 Years Later, starring Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. What does the ending of the film mean for the future of the franchise?
Boyle, of course, directed 28 Days Later in 2002, a horror thriller that chronicled the outbreak of the “rage virus” that turned the living into undead zombie maniacs. Boyle returned to executive produce the film’s first sequel, 28 Weeks Later, in 2007 and reteamed with his 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland (who directed Civil War and Warfare) for 28 Years Later.
The film starts at the onset of the rage virus, where in the Scottish Highlands a young boy named Jimmy (Rocco Hayes) is ordered by his mother (Kim Allan) to flee from his home as it is invaded by several of “the infected.” From there, the film flashes forward 28 years later, where a group of survivors, including Jamie (Taylor-Johnson), Ilsa (Comer) and their 11-year-old son, Spike (Alfie Williams), are introduced.
The official summary for 28 Years Later reads, “It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway.
“When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers the secrets, wonders and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.”
Jamie, Ilsa and Spike are inhabitants of the island, which thanks to carefully guarded barrier at their end of the causeway keeps the infected at bay. However, the inhabitants of the island must always be prepared for a breach by the infected, so in a rite of passage, fathers take their pre-teen sons across the causeway to the mainland. It’s on the mainland where the infected roam at will, so the fathers and the boys must be vigilant so they don’t fall victim to the zombies.
At first, the hunt goes well, but complications and harrowing situations with the infected force Jamie and Jimmy to stay a bit longer on the mainland, where some of its mysteries begin to pique Spike’s interest. One, as Spike comes to learn, is an area where fires are always burning, which is inhabited by Dr. Kelson (Fiennes), whom Jamie explains is nothing but a madman.
Spike, however, is willing to risk his life to seek out Dr. Kelson to help heal an ailing member of the island community— but he will need to face off against an untold number of the infected to do it.
Note: Spoilers for “28 Years Later” are discussed in the next section.
The Final Scene, Not The End Credits, Sets Up The Future Of The ’28 Years Later’ Franchise
Since many genre films have end credits or post-credits scenes, viewers will no doubt wonder what happens during the end credits of 28 Years Later.
Typically, end-credits or post-credits scenes either tie up loose ends from a scene earlier in the film or they indicate that a sequel is on the way. The interesting thing about 28 Years Later is that yes, there are quick cuts of action from earlier in the film that play all the way through the end credits, ending with a shot of Spike.
However, since there are no actual narrative scenes that play out in the end credits of 28 Years Later, you won’t miss anthing if you leave as the credits begin to roll. The last scene in the movie before the credits, however, ties up the loose end of what became of young Jimmy from the first scene of the film.
The final scene of 28 Years Later finds Spike venturing out on his own because of a personal falling out with his father, Jamie, regarding his relationship with Isla, which won’t be spoiled here.
As Spike begins to navigate the mainland, he encounters a group of the infected, which he fends off at first until it looks like he will be overrun by the zombie hoard. Suddenly, though, a small group of weapon-wielding survivalists emerge and kill the infected and the leader of the group asks Spike to join them.
The leader introduces himself as Jimmy (Jack O’Connell), who is the grownup version of the boy from the beginning of the film. Jimmy’s identity is confirmed since he is wearing the same crucifix that was given to him by a preacher at the beginning of the film.
In the credits, O’Connell is billed as Sir Jimmy Crystal, while his followers each use Jimmy as part of their name. Bearing such names as Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman), Jimmy Jimmy (Robert Rhodes) and Jimmima (Emma Laird), it suggests that the survivalists are cult-like followers of Sir Jimmy Crystal.
Fans of 28 Years Later won’t have to wait for word of a sequel because one has already been announced.
Directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels), written by Alex Garland and produced by Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is already in production and is set for a 2026 release. O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes will reprise their roles in the film, while more stars are yet to be announced.
Cillian Murphy, who starred in 28 Days Later and is an executive producer on 28 Years Later, will have a small role in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and appear more in the third 28 Years Later film as well, Boyle told Variety in an interview on Thursday.
Rated R, 28 Years Later is playing in theaters nationwide.
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