This long awaited sequel to the little movie that revolutionized the zombie genre, is a lot of things all at once, but not enough of any of them to really make an impact.

The film picks up 28 years (who could’ve guessed) after the events of the first film. The whole of Great Britain is quarantined from the outside world due to the “rage virus” which turns people into zombie like creatures who want nothing more than to destroy and devour. 

A small island connected to mainland Britain by a tiny isthmus is home to a community of survivors. We meet one family on this island. Jamie, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, is a tough but caring father who wants to bring his young son Spike, played by Alfie Williams, onto mainland Britain to get his first kill. They bring bows and arrows to hunt down and kill a couple of infected. 

This first segment is a brilliant short film. It’s tense. It’s father and son trapped behind enemy lines. Surrounded by potential danger in a the wasteland that Britain has become. They scrounge around long deserted houses. They shoot a couple of zombies. Jamie tries to teach his son how to defend himself and protect himself in the wild. He is kind and encouraging of his son. It was really refreshing to see this relationship develop as they encounter danger and end up trapped over night. 

After this twenty minute sequence, the movie loses its way. It introduces Spike’s mother, Isla, Played by Jodie Comer. She is suffering from an unknown ailment that causes her unbearable pain and robs her of her memories for long stretches. 

Spike takes his mother deep into the mainland thinking that a doctor who lives amongst the infected can diagnose her ailment and fix her. He and his mother go on a death defying journey through the wasteland of Britain. They find themselves pinned down and trapped. They figure out a way out of danger and make their way to the doctor. 

This segment makes the first segment feel redundant. It’s essentially the same film twice. We cover this ground more effectively in the first sections. 

When we finally meet the doctor he is nothing like what we might expect. Their scenes together are quite touching and strangely beautiful. 

This is the unique problem with this movie. It is deeply affecting and moving. I felt every emotion and was truly moved by the film. However it was also deeply disappointing and felt overstuffed and too thin. It had too many ideas, but it also didn’t have enough. It had too many elements, but they were just reiterating each other. They didn’t develop the world or the zombies in unique or interesting ways. It didn’t have enough. 

Maybe it feels so incomplete because we’re just waiting for the sequel. There is a sequel on its way which will maybe wrap-up the story and the world of this series, but after this one I’m not super excited. I hate the Marvel-ification of movies. I’m tired of films ending with a tease for the next movie. If you want the full story, come back for the next installment. Just tell your story don’t make me wait for the next one which will hopefully provide satisfying resolution.

At the end of the day, it was pretty good, but not very good. It’s a very middle of the road experience. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you love zombies and love these movies. 

It’s half a cup of tea for me. C