The Alex Garland-written/directed Ex Machina (2014) is in the top three of my favourite science fiction movies of all time.

Had I known that Garland was the writer of sci-fi/zombie classic, 28 Days Later (2002), my general aversion to scary movies aside, I’d probably have seen the film years earlier. 

Directed by Danny Boyle (another point for why I ought to have seen the film already), it was my love for the trailers of the recently released 28 Years Later (2025), the third movie in the series, and a little convincing from a fellow movie fan that finally made me do the thing.

And as I did so, I soon learned that 28 Days Later is a classic for a reason. It’s no wonder Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris’s careers seemed to only ascend after this film, a well-told story about a mysterious and incurable virus that takes over the UK, leaving only a few survivors in search of safety.

A good time is what I had as this movie played. And, yes, for a brief moment, my sensitive soul may have had some regret about starting 28 Days Later, specifically when things took a dark turn towards the end. However, I remain glad I saw it all because I was fully engaged throughout. The great use of music contributed to this, along with all the performances, including my favourite line:

‘He’s still waiting for Marks & Spencer to reopen.’

I love it because the comic timing is fantastic, and it’s so very relatably British.

Watch 28 Days Later, if you haven’t already. And certainly because 28 Years Later is quite worth it.

Happy Film Loving,

G