Major Spoilers for 28 Years Later are below.
Summary
The ending of28 Years Laterhas seemed to divide audiences despite being brilliantly constructed. It is the third installment in the zombie franchise, which started in 2002 with director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland’s28 Days Later. Boyle and Garland return for28 Years Later, continuing to expand on the world they created with a unique take on the evolution of the Rage virus and those who still fight to survive among the infected.
The horror sequel has received positive reviews from critics and audiences. Still, even among those who enjoyed the film, there is confusion about the ending, with some outright hating it. The closing moments of28 Years Laterfeel jarring compared to the rest of the film, as it is tonally different in every way. However, the movie does a great job of laying the groundwork throughout the film to actually make the final scene an impactful moment that speaks volumes about a character’s journey and his future.
Where Spike Finds Himself At The End Of28 Years Later
Thestory of28 Years Laterfollows Spike, a 12-year-old boy who has lived his entire life cut off from the rest of the world in the United Kingdom due to the Rage virus, specifically on a small island off the coast that is only reachable during low tides. Spike idolizes his father, Jamie, who is raising his son to be a warrior in their bleak world. Spike is seen early in the film playing with a Power Ranger toy, which he puts down before his first exodus from their remote island with his father. It’s a symbolic gesture, showing he has put down childish things and foreshadowing his abandoning of hero worship, which is about to play out with his father.
During their first outing, Spike falters but kills some infected as he and his father endure unforeseen hardships, with a new Alpha infected after them. Once they return to their island, Spike sees his father boasting about their journey, lying about how things actually played out. He further witnesses his dad cheating on his mother, who is at home suffering from an unknown illness that is affecting her mental and physical health. This spurs Spike to take his mother to the mainland, seeking a doctor he learned about in hopes of curing her ailment.
Through a perilous journey, Spike and his mother find the doctor, only for him to deliver the terrible news that she is dying. Spike thus faces another tough moment: having to let his mother go. Having endured a heart-wrenching journey into adulthood, Spike only returns to his island to deliver a message and the baby he and his mother found on their trek to his father. He then travels to the mainland alone on a journey of self-discovery, where the movie embraces a unique moment that has fans divided.
Thefinal scene shows Spikebeing chased by the infected, only for a group of brightly colored tracksuit-wearing survivors to show up with their leader, Jimmy. His group, the “Jimmies,” jump into action, dispatching the infected surrounding Spike in cartoonish fashion, utilizing martial arts, and looking to have plenty of fun doing so.The moment feels odd because the tone and mood are so different from the rest of the film, even with how Boyle directs it and the music that plays. It leaves audiences scratching their heads as Jimmy, who looks like an obvious villain, befriends Spike as the credits roll.
Who Is Jimmy Crystal In The Closing Moments Of28 Years Later?
Jimmy is first set up in the film’s prologue as a young boy watchingTeletubbieswith other children when infected burst in, and he runs for his life.Jimmy’s father is a preacher, and the boy runs to him in their church for help, only to realize his father believes thevirus was meant to be. He gives Jimmy his cross, with his son running off as the infected burst into the church. Jimmy hides as everyone around him either dies or becomes infected, holding his father’s cross close as the movie shifts to Spike’s story.
During Spike’s journey, he encounters signs of Jimmy. He and his father find an infected strung up by its feet, dangling with a bag over its head, which is the work of the “Jimmies.” They even find a Bible verse written across a building with Jimmy’s name attached to it that reads:“Behold, he is coming with the clouds.“This all foreshadows Jimmy’s arrival in the final scene.
When audiences meet Jimmy in the closing moments, he is wearing a tracksuit, with long blonde hair and his father’s cross worn upside down around his neck. Jimmy is leading a gang that idolizes him, and he looks to have embraced himself as a potentially godly figure. His appearance and gang feel childish, which speaks to the prologue. He is stuck in arrested development, never having truly matured.
Jimmy’s appearance also mirrors the notoriously vile British figure Jimmy Savile. Savile was known as an entertainer, and someone whom a young Jimmy would have likely looked up to before the events of28 Days Laterin 2002. Savile’s heinous child abuse crimes didn’t come to light until 2012, long after the UK was cut off from theworld in28 Years Later. Therefore, Jimmy continued to idolize Savile. Just like the evil personality,Jimmy appears nice on the surface, but is hiding a darkness audiences will see in the upcoming sequel,28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
Why The Divisive Ending Of28 Years LaterIs Brilliantly Constructed
While the final scene in28 Years Laterhas divided audiences, it brilliantly brings together the movie’s themes and characters in a unique way.The fight plays like one from aPower RangersTV show, which feels jarring to the audience, but enticing to Spike. It is something he idolized in his toy, and he will now once again be tempted by it in the form of Jimmy and his gang. Furthermore, it gives viewers a snapshot of Jimmy’s mentality. He is a man-child, unlike Spike, who is a child violently thrust into adulthood.
The ending also speaks to the influences of fathers.Spike’s father taught him his skills, but he broke away from his ideals thanks to his lies. Jimmy’s father thought he was a prophet of sorts, understanding the Rage virus unlike anyone else, and he allowed it to overtake him. Jimmy similarly sees himself as an enlightened figure, embracing his father’s ideals by still wearing the cross. However, the cross is upside down, showing his warped viewpoint.
While theending of28 Years Laterhas split viewers, the bizarre scene contains multitudes.With the foreshadowing throughout the script, Boyle and Garland have given audiences a truly brilliant finaleto a unique zombie tale that could reveal new elements every time someone watches it.
