28 YEARS LATER TRAILER 1
Once, a man woke up from a coma and realized that Britain had descended into anarchy due to a deadly virus. That was 28 years ago. This is the haunting 1st trailer for 28 Years Later.
28 years after a deadly virus turned the majority of the world into zombies, the survivors remain in tightly enforced quarantine zones while the undead run wild in the ruins of civilization. Survivors are seen wielding bows and arrows, living in isolation in the wilderness (hinting that the government’s strategy in 28 Weeks Later to let the infected starve themselves failed).
Now, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) must venture from his island community onto the mainland, discovering the rotten state of a world inhabited only by mutants. And, while undergoing a perilous journey across Britain, he’ll realize just how far humanity has gone to survive in this new hellscape.
This 1st trailer’s job was to bring viewers back into a world beyond hope. And, boy, did they deliver. Set to the unbelievably haunting 1903 “Boots” by Rudyard Kipling, the trailer immediately puts viewers on edge. Relying on sparse imagery like shrines of human skulls is incredibly effective, showing that the human side of the undead is still alive but warped beyond repair.
The trailer’s pacing is frantic, intense, and unyielding. Taylor-Johnson does a spectacular job portraying a mix of wide-eyed fear and shock, faced with a world he barely recognizes. While the trailer only hints at the film’s overall story, its grander scope and more freakish apocalyptic tone hints at a story more action-packed and desperate than the quiet creepiness of the first installment.
Director Danny Boyle honed his visual storytelling skills on some of England’s biggest blockbuster films. And he’s brought back his new grandiose style to the indie film series he pioneered two decades ago. And the results are staggering. Often times, a horror film gets neutered by expanding its scope, but Boyle has seemingly only upped the intensity with Hollywood’s money on his side.
If Sony plays their cards right, they may be able to capture the A Quiet Place summer audience and have a bonafide super-hit on their hands.
Directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later will release theatrically in the US on June 20, 2025. The movie stars an ensemble cast led by Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Jodie Comer & Ralph Fiennes.
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.
