28 Years Later director Danny Boyle reveals unexpected ‘nightmare’ of filming NAKED zombie scenes for the horror movie starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Director Danny Boyle confessed that shooting nude zombie sequences for the critically-acclaimed movie “28 Days Later” was quite a challenging ordeal, owing to one particular hurdle.

68-year-old Danny returned to the director’s position to lead a new horror movie penned by Alex Garland, which is being described as ‘terrifying’. This marks their return to collaboration in the film industry, 23 years since their first joint project, “28 Days Later”, was released in cinemas.

Following the release of the much-anticipated film, Danny took a moment to ponder over the hurdles he encountered during production, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes as the main cast members.

He disclosed that it was essential to exercise additional caution to ensure no adult actors appeared without costumes or clothing, as they followed stringent guidelines to safeguard their young star, Alfie Williams, on set.

Danny shared with PEOPLE: “If you’ve just become infected with the zombie virus, you might still have some clothing, but if your infection is advanced, the clothes will deteriorate due to your unusual behavior.

Initially, we were unaware of the regulations concerning nudity with children on set. It turned out to be a real horror.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: To ensure safety guidelines are met while capturing scenes with undead characters devoid of clothing, I’ve learned that the talented actors involved must don prosthetic additions. This creative choice helps maintain a balance between authenticity and adherence to industry standards.

It’s interesting to note that since a 12-year-old boy was present on the set, no one could actually be nude. Instead, they used prosthetics to make it appear as if they were naked. This is what he revealed.

‘So it’s like: ”Oh my God,” so we had to make everybody prosthetic genitals.’

Danny expressed eagerness to explore limits by incorporating aspects like nudity and violence in the movie, and he’s pleased that the studio executives backed his ideas.

He stated to Variety: “One aspect I find fascinating about horror is that it requires an emphasis on intensifying the narrative impact. This desire is shared when crafting dramas, romances, or any other genre.

However, it’s undeniably going to be harsh at times. Yet, what captivated us was contrasting this harshness with the innocent characters, who symbolize innocence, as well as the breathtaking scenery and natural beauty depicted in the setting.

‘Having those two forces stretches your story as far as you can go, if you maximize them.’

In the initial film of the series titled “28 Days Later,” we encounter Jim, portrayed by Cillian Murphy. After emerging from a coma, he finds himself in a United Kingdom ravaged by a horrific pandemic called the Rage Virus. This virus transforms its victims into bloodthirsty creatures reminiscent of zombies.

Despite not appearing in the second part or the latest edition, actor Cillian will have a short cameo in the forthcoming fourth installment titled “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

In the upcoming fourth movie, Danny takes on the role of producer, with Nia DaCosta at the helm as director. Interestingly, this film was shot early, prior to its originally scheduled release date in January 2026.

If a fifth film is approved, the creator behind Trainspotting aims to take his seat as director once more.

Alex Garland, aged 55, was the mastermind behind the creation of the series. He penned the scripts for every film in the series with the exception of the second installment, titled “28 Weeks Later”.

28 Years Later, the latest installment in the zombie horror series, has been applauded by critics and garnered positive feedback.

Twenty years after the 2002 version, where a lethal virus devastated London, the latest film centers around a band of survivors who have made their home on the isolated island of Lindisfarne.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, over 91 film critics have weighed in on the movie, collectively giving it a high approval rating of 94%.

In a glowing review, Brian Viner of The Daily Mail expressed profound admiration for the most recent gruesome episode in the series. He labeled this movie as the “top post-apocalyptic horror-thriller film I’ve ever seen.

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have created an exceptionally impressive post-apocalyptic survivalist horror-thriller with the movie ’28 Years Later’. This genre is quite competitive, but their work truly stands out as the best I’ve ever seen in this field.

In The Telegraph, Robbie Collin gave the movie “28 Years Later” an exceptional review, awarding it a perfect score of five out of five stars, praising it as a truly terrifying horror film.

In his writing, Garland uses a unique brand of darkly humorous humor that is reminiscent of British pulp style, similar to what you’d find in 2000 AD and Warhammer 40,000 comics. This humor serves to contrast the pervasive atmosphere of fear.

Additionally, snippets of Arthurian illusions and war period news clips (alongside a subtle double appearance by the fallen Sycamore Gap tree) frequently poke fun at the idea of a modern-day British legend as he and Boyle grapple with this concept.

The movie was awarded a five-star rating by Ed Potton, a critic from The Times, who praised Jodie Comer’s consistently outstanding acting performance.

Could the movie in question be the most enchantingly grotesque zombie film yet? It’s challenging to imagine another production that blends such captivating whimsy with the customary gore, cannibalism, and brutal disembowelment.

According to Caryn James from the BBC, the eagerly awaited movie earned a rating of four out of five stars. She referred to Ralph Fiennes’ acting as “stolen-the-show” quality.

28 Years Later encompasses elements of zombie-horror, medieval setting construction, emotional family narrative, and perhaps most strikingly, an exploration reminiscent of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness as it delves into the psyche of a madman living in the wilderness.

The production showcases Boyle’s unique style, Garland’s bold scriptwriting, and an outstanding portrayal by Ralph Fiennes. Interestingly, Fiennes’ character makes his entrance midway through the movie, ultimately taking center stage as the film’s central, complex figure.

28 Years Later received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from Empire. Ben Travis, the reviewer, stated: ’28 Years Later is relentless, teeming with adrenaline. The mainland pulsates with an omnipresent feeling of imminent peril; when the infected approach (and boy, do they come close), it’s nerve-wracking tension at its best.’

28 Years Later received a somewhat more negative assessment from journalists at The Guardian and The Independent, who each awarded it three stars.

In The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw stated: The movie transitions somewhat uneasily from taking us to the mainland for intense action scenes involving genuine firearms, to introducing two ‘alpha’ characters that it wouldn’t be fair to disclose. However, these appearances cause the film to oscillate between profound sadness and a peculiar, implausible (yet undeniably striking) comic-book oddity.

Even though the movie “28 Years Later” might seem like it’s repeatedly hitting us over the head with symbolism, director Boyle remains an engaging storyteller. The film distinguishes itself from the original by presenting a more emotional and mystical narrative than previously seen.

28 Years Later, released in 2025, has been an outstanding hit in the horror genre, breaking records as the top pre-selling film of the year. The movie is projected to earn approximately $30 million during its opening weekend.

Read More

2025-06-20 15:49