A surprisingly sensitive zombie movie, 28 Years Later reunites the writer and director of

the original film in the franchise 23 years after 28 Days Later was released.

I speak of Alex Garland (Ex Machina) and Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).

It has been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory and it has laid waste to the UK.

Zombies are everywhere and survivors have been left to fend for themselves.

A group of the latter has established a community on a small island, which is connected to the quarantined mainland at low tide via a causeway.

At other times, it is covered in water.

The focus is on 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams), whose father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is preparing him for a rite of passage.

He wants Spike to have his independence and the tools to navigate this new world order.

Spike’s mother, Isla (Jodie Comer), is all but bed ridden with a grave illness, more often than not in a delusional state.

There are no modern medicines on the island, which, for all intents and purposes, is a throwback to the turn of the 20th century.

So, it is that with bows and arrows in hand, Jamie takes Spike on his first expedition to the mainland, where Spike will have his first kill of the “infected”.

But upon his return to a community celebration of his exploits, an overseen event shatters Spike.

Thereafter, he seeks help for his mother, which will see both of them leave the relative safety of their community.

Like his road trip with his father, zombies are close at hand.

So, it is that 28 Years Later becomes a coming-of-age zombie movie, with heart.

It has been well written and executed (there is a freshness about it), with strong production values.

It features fat, slow, ground crawling creatures and fast, agile beasts. We even get to witness a zombie giving birth.

The most combative of the undead is a mountain of a former man, aptly known as Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry).

Newcomer Alfie Williams impresses greatly as the empathetic and whip smart Spike. 

He displays fortitude beyond his years as we witness his growth and maturation.

There is an edginess to Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie and a warmth about Jodie Comer as Isla when she sets out on the journey with Spike.

Another of note in the cast is Ralph Fiennes, who plays the worldly Dr Kelson. He lives on the mainland and has, for years, been able to withstand the onslaught of zombies.

He has even built an ivory tower (a bone temple) to honour the fallen.

Spike sets out to take his mum to Dr Kelson.

But don’t for a moment think that the franchise ends here.

The filmmakers have set up a sequel (or could that be a trilogy?) with what I felt was a silly, over-the-top ending that is a decided change of pace.

Nevertheless, there is an overall quality about this offering, which, at its roots, is a story about a family facing adversity.

Rated MA, it scores a 7½ out of 10.