28 Weeks Later (2007)
★★★½ — 28 Weeks Later (2007)
Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later (2002) was a genuinely influential piece of British horror, shot on consumer DV cameras for around £5 million and widely credited with reviving interest in fast-moving infected narratives at a time when the genre had gone quiet. Its sequel, arriving five years later, handed the reins to Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, whose debut feature Intacto (2001) had earned strong notices on the festival circuit. Fox Atomic came aboard for North American distribution, pushing the budget to a comparatively comfortable $15 million, and production shot largely on location in London, with sections of the city temporarily cleared to stage the large-scale military sequences. Jeremy Renner, still several years away from his mainstream breakthrough, appears here in a supporting role alongside Robert Carlyle and Rose Byrne.
It may not reach the heights of the first film, but 28 Weeks Later still delivers some of the most terrifying moments in modern zombie (I know they're not zombies) cinema. That opening sequence is absolutely iconic. Watching Don sprint through those quiet English fields with the infected tearing after him (iconic 28 days later music, just breath and terror) might be one of the best intros in recent horror history. It grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go. And the final third, with the kids trying to escape London while the military does its usually questionable thing is gripping. Tense. Proper nail-biter stuff. You’re right there with them, wondering if they’ll make it out, or if they're already infected. But between those high-octane bookends, things do drag a bit. The middle chunk gets a little stuck in survival-mode limbo. Lots of sneaking around, whispering, waiting. It kills the momentum, especially when compared to the relentless pace of 28 Days Later . And while the infection concept still works visually, there’s something about this sequel that feels slightly more “by the playbook” than its predecessor. Still, this is post-apocalyptic horror done well, scary, emotional, and grounded enough to feel real. Just not quite as fresh or shocking as when we first saw those runners back in 2002. Solid, but never quite great.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 2007 | Watched: 2025-05-16
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
Affiliate disclosure: Movies With Macca may earn a small commission on purchases or subscriptions started via these links. It costs you nothing extra.
Related on Movies With Macca
More from United Kingdom: Lessons of Darkness (1992) · Shinjuku Boys (1995) · The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) · Blue (1993)
More from the 2000s: Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) · Daredevil (2003) · Apocalypto (2006)
More horror: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Viy (1967) · Nightmare City (1980) · Angst (1983)
More thriller: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Angst (1983) · The Long Walk (2025) · Punishment Park (1971)
