28 Years Later Devastated Me With Its Twist In The Middle, And Being A Parent Only Made It Scarier

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October is the perfect month for scary movies, and 28 Years Later, now streaming on Netflix, is a great choice. It’s not only highly rated by TopMob, but it’s especially frightening for those with children.

Just a heads-up: I’m about to discuss major plot points from the movie *28 Years Later*. I highly recommend watching it first, but if you don’t mind spoilers and are curious why this film really affected me as a parent, go ahead and read on!

28 Years Later Starts Off Like A Father And Son Bonding Experience

Unlike previous films in this series, the characters in *28 Years Later* have learned to live with the constant threat of fast-moving zombies. They’ve developed strategies for survival over the years. In one survivor community, life is so stable that they have a coming-of-age tradition: young people go on their first hunting trip outside the city walls with experienced elders.

We’re introduced to Jamie and Spike, and witness their complex relationship as father and son trying to survive in a broken, post-apocalyptic world. Spike deeply respects his father but struggles with his own confidence. Jamie is incredibly proud of Spike, particularly after they barely escape an encounter with a powerful zombie and make it back to their village. Set in a desolate, isolated Britain, they seem to have only each other – at least, that’s what I initially believed while watching this heartwarming scene.

The Twist Of Spike Rejecting His Father Broke My Heart

As a movie fan, I was really invested in the bond between Spike and his dad, Jamie, and the film does a great job setting that up early on. It’s heartbreaking, then, when things fall apart so quickly. Right after leaving a town celebration, Spike unexpectedly walks in on his father with someone else, while his mother and Jamie’s wife, Isla, is seriously ill at home. It’s a gut punch, and really shifts the emotional weight of the story.

The next morning, Spike went home to talk to his father, but he kept what he’d witnessed a secret from his mother. Upset by Spike’s claim that he’d be glad if Isla passed away, Jamie hit his son and then left the house.

I haven’t gone through exactly what they’re experiencing, but I understand disappointing a child. I once messed up the time and arrived late to my daughter’s school lunch, and seeing her sadness really stayed with me for months. I can only imagine how much more painful it would be to disappoint a child in a bigger way, and the guilt that would follow.

Spike Leaving The Community With His Mother In Secret Made My Hair Stand On End

I’m not usually frightened by zombie stories, but the movie *28 Years Later* really got to me. The scene where Spike runs from the city with his mother, without his father knowing until it’s too late, was particularly chilling. Having just barely escaped danger once already, his attempt to find a doctor for his sick mother while navigating a dangerous world felt like a hopeless journey.

I immediately recognized that overconfidence – it’s the kind you see in someone who feels they have nothing to lose. The moment Spike and Isla started their plan, I expected a tragic outcome, so I was relieved the ending wasn’t as bleak as I feared.

It’s heartbreaking for Spike to learn his mother has incurable cancer and that doctors can’t do anything to help. They faced so many challenges just to reach this diagnosis, and it makes you think about whether earlier treatment might have been possible if the zombie apocalypse hadn’t happened. The movie doesn’t focus on that question, though. Instead, it’s about Spike coming to terms with his mother’s death and finding some peace in knowing she’s no longer in pain.

Overall It’s A Fantastic Movie, But Really Put Me Through It As A Parent

A follow-up to *28 Years Later* is confirmed, and while I’m eager to see *The Bone Temple*, I’m also a little apprehensive. I’m really looking forward to finding out what happens to Spike after the first movie, particularly with the interesting group of people who saved him at the end.

More On 28 Years Later

The director of the upcoming sequel to ’28 Years Later’ shared one change she made to the script, and it’s got fans really excited about the film.

This movie was emotionally draining, especially as a parent. By the end, I was deeply affected, and I felt immense sympathy for Jamie, knowing her son was lost and surviving on his own. I can only imagine the desperation she felt, and I’d likely do anything – search tirelessly through the wilderness – just to find my child and bring them home safely.

For me, what really struck a chord in *28 Years Later* was how it captured that moment you realize your parents aren’t perfect—they’re just people. As a kid, it’s unsettling to lose that sense of them being all-knowing and capable of fixing anything. Honestly, that realization felt scarier than even the zombies themselves! Though, don’t get me wrong, being chased by a horde of fast-moving infected would be terrifying in real life, too.

As we’ve said, you can now watch *28 Years Later* on Netflix, where you’ll find plenty of other frightening films too. I’m excited to watch a lot of popular horror movies this fall, and I’m hoping to discover some new scary movies coming out in 2025 before the end of the year.

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2025-10-14 23:54