Credited with bringing the zombie genre back to ravenous, twitching life, 2002’s 28 Days Later set into motion two decades of bolting from the braindead, not least in umpteen instalments of TV smash The Walking Dead. Eighteen years after the follow-up (2007’s 28 Weeks Later, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo), original director Danny Boyle returns triumphantly to the franchise with a film once again penned by dystopian dynamo Alex Garland (Civil War, Ex Machina), while Oscar-winning cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle is also back.

Unexpectedly inspired by low-key Ken Loach classic Kes, 28 Years Later initially backtracks from the more expansive second instalment, though it once again focuses on a family’s tensions and troubles. With the Rage virus beaten into retreat from mainland Europe, the British have regained their global pariah status; we see vessels patrolling the coastline to keep survivors out, in a nifty spin on the small-boats crisis.

Set on a tiny English island situated near Gateshead (confirmed by the poignant appearance of a rusted Angel Of The North), the film centres on 12-year-old Spike (exceptional newcomer Alfie Williams), who is being schooled in survival by his macho dad Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Spike’s ailing mother Isla (Jodie Comer) is an increasing concern, with Ralph Fiennes a mysterious, possibly dangerous doctor who may be able to help her. The film’s approach to zombies has evolved into three categories: ‘fast ones’, ‘fat ones’ and, most worryingly, the hard to beat ‘alphas’.

Boasting a budget of nearly ten times that of the original, 28 Years Later is a very polished production, driven by a vigorous Young Fathers-led soundtrack. Some of the splashier visuals are at odds with the predominant serious-mindedness, but its focused, character-driven approach works well, and the cast are superb. If there are plenty of full-throttle, suitably disgusting thrills, those looking for scares should look elsewhere. The film has been shot back-to-back with its sequel (subtitled The Bone Temple and directed by Candyman’s Nia DaCosta) and, while a late-in-the-game appearance from one of the film’s signposted stars marks a jarring tonal shift, that there’s more to come is a mouth-watering prospect.

28 Years Later is in cinemas from Friday 20 June.