LOS ANGELES, June 18 (UPI) -- 28 Years Later, in theaters Friday, takes many creative risks with the horror franchise. Just enough of those risks pay off to make the film worthwhile, though several threaten to derail the whole movie.
The sequel opens 28 years after the rage virus infected Britain in 2002's 28 Days Later. The region was quarantined by the rest of the world in the 2007 follow-up 28 Weeks Later, which ended with the virus spreading to mainland Europe.
28 Years Later introduces viewers to 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams), who lives in a gated Scottish community with his father, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and ailing mother, Isla (Jodie Comer). Jamie takes Spike on his first excursion to the mainland, teaching the boy how to kill infected attackers with a bow and arrow.
Emboldened by his new skills, Spike ventures out again with his mother to search for the infamous Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), whom he hopes can treat Isla.
Returning director Danny Boyle, after skipping 28 Weeks, makes several stylistic choices that can make 28 Years Later abrasive to watch. There are occasional shots with low grade, blurry video, perhaps to harken back to 2002's primitive digital cameras, but most of the movie is clear.
