Despite the absence of director Danny Boyle and breakout star Cillian Murphy, 28 Weeks Later proves to be a flawed but worthy sequel to 2003’s chilling 28 Days Later. Featuring a new cast led by Robert Carlyle, the film picks up precisely 28 weeks after a rage-inducing virus has wiped out the majority of the U.K. Not long after residents are granted entry back into London does the virus break loose yet again, resulting in a bloody rampage throughout the city streets.

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Intacto) successfully recreates the unsettling and isolated atmosphere of the original while obviously working with a larger cast and budget. In addition to a terrific opening sequence, the film produces a handful of gruesome and disturbing moments that are sure to stay with you long after you leave the theatre. However, the film is not without its share of flaws. Although 28 Weeks Later resists using the hand-held camerawork that dominated the original, many of the film’s action sequences are virtually impossible to decipher due to an abundance of overwhelming and ultimately distracting camera cuts and jittery shots. Furthermore, the film’s attempt to include some political commentary is rather one-note, despite its current relevancy.