To celebrate the release of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple — a film we are… let’s say cautiously sceptical about — we decided not to review it at all.

Instead, we’re heading back to where it all began: Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s grimy, raw, pulse-pounding horror classic 28 Days Later, the film that kicked off this apparently new franchise and redefined fast, angry “infected” (they are not zombies, thank you very much).

We pit it against another lonely, end-of-the-world favourite: I Am Legend — a glossy Hollywood blockbuster with a very different take on isolation, survival, and yelling at mannequins.

Same ruined world. Very different vibes.

One is documentary-style, bleak and uncomfortably real.

The other is big-budget, star-powered and unapologetically cinematic.

But which one actually does it better?

To find out, we put both films through our highly rigorous, completely unbiased, definitely scientific scoring system. Four categories. Five points each. No vibes. Just facts™.

• Story & Emotional Impact
• Craft & Tone
• World-Building
• Tension & Set-Pieces

The overall winner takes home the prestigious, imaginary trophy for Best Zombie (Sorry, Infected) Movie.

What better time to get spooky than January? Other than that other horror month of course.

Press play, lock the doors, and join us as civilisation collapses - again.

FULL SPOILERS FOR 28 DAYS LATER AND I AM LEGEND IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

Agree with our scores? What would you score these films? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:09:51 - Category 1: Story & Emotional Impact

00:48:53 - Category 2: Craft & Tone

01:06:54 - Category 3: World-Building

01:23:32 - Category 4: Tension & Set-Pieces

01:43:55 - Final Scores

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Since we somehow managed the impossible — turning Rachael from a Florence Pugh sceptic into a fully-fledged Florence Pugh celebrator — we’ve been on the hunt for our next great conversion. And while Rachael is usually the easy target (she apparently hates half of Hollywood), we thought we’d mix things up and turn our attention to Dale… who has one very specific cinematic prejudice.

Against Keira Knightley.

Yes. Elizabeth-Swann-Bend-It-Like-Beckham-Actual-National-Treasure Keira Knightley. And you could even say that Dale’s dislike is less Pride and a whole lot more… Prejudice.

So in this episode of Make Me a Fan Of…, Rachael and Daniel each bring a Keira Knightley film to the table in a bold, valiant, possibly doomed attempt to turn Dale from Keira-Knightley-Doubter into Keira-Knightley-Enjoyer. Can the team make it 2 for 2 on opinion-shifting? One thing’s certain — Dale is much more stubborn than Rachael, so this one might go down to the wire.

This format has become one of the most beloved in our little podcast universe (turns out we all love a bit of emotional peer pressure), so you can expect more of these in the future… though probably featuring Rachael more than anyone else. Dan just seems to like everyone.

And to set the mood, we leave you with the immortal words of Elizabeth Swann herself:

Keira Knightley. Icon. Corset Queen. But will she become Dale-Approved™?

Stick around to the end to find out whether three carefully-chosen films are enough to change a mind — or whether Dale remains unmoved, like a particularly grumpy Mr Darcy in the rain.

What actor/director do you have a dislike of that you want to see covered? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through TikTok and Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:07:31 - The Debate

00:31:32 - The Films

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Welcome to the first chaos of 2026 — it’s our annual deep dive into the year ahead in cinema! We’re breaking down the films that have got us excited, confused, or mildly panicked, from epic space odysseys to superhero overload.

This year, Nolan returns with a mind-bending spectacle that promises headaches and awe in equal measure. Spielberg’s back in sci-fi, Denis Villeneuve is rounding off his Dune trilogy, and yes… there’s more superhero madness than you can shake a cape at. We’re talking trailers, teasers, and all the film gossip that tickles our pickle (and maybe yours).

A quick note: schedules and release dates change on a whim, so what we’re talking about is accurate at the time of recording — don’t get mad if things shift! Also, the recording goes a bit sideways for Daniel near the end, so you’ll miss a couple of his opinions on two December films — sorry, Daniel.

On top of all that, we’re showing off our brand-new cover art and launching our brand-new Patreon, where you can support the podcast and get exclusive content. Big year, big films, big chaos — and now a big new way to join the fun.

Laughs, ironic commentary, and mild arguments guaranteed — all while we rank what we’re most anticipated to see in 2026. A new year, a new slate of cinema, and of course, the same chaotic three of us pretending we know what’s coming next.

Let us know your what you are excited to see in 2026!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:11:34 - 2026's Most Anticipated

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