One of the most frightening films of the year, *28 Years Later*, made use of iPhones to film crucial scenes.

Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland come together once again nearly 28 years after their seminal 2002 movie *28 Days Later*, offering a magnificently terrifying cinematic journey in their newest film.

Also back is cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, whose utilization of digital camcorders characterized *28 Days Later*. In this film, Boyle and Mantle use a diverse array of cameras, including 20 modified iPhone 15s, all aimed at capturing Boyle’s desired 2.76:1 widescreen format. But what impact does this create in *28 Years Later*, and how does it affect the performers in front of the various lenses?

Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko engaged with Boyle for Mashable’s *Say More* podcast, while UK editor Shannon Connellan interviewed *28 Years Later* stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Alfie Williams to discover more about creating a significant horror film using iPhones.

“When someone brings an iPhone very close, it feels a bit invasive. You become somewhat exposed, and there’s no hiding. There’s a quality about it that reveals everything, which required us to remain very present in the moment,” remarks Taylor-Johnson. “You adapt to it quickly, and it transformed into a wonderful environment to be in.”

“Technology has advanced, and we thought it was necessary to progress, yet we wanted to honor that instinct to utilize the mundane in some fashion. So it feels like something that has emerged from the essence of the story. And indeed, we all have these phones now, so we chose to incorporate them,” Boyle explains.

“They’re lightweight, they now shoot in 4K, but they enabled us to explore locations, remote areas in the UK, with a very minimal footprint,” he continues. “However, we employed numerous cameras. We didn’t rely solely on the iPhones… there’s a red sequence that utilized this unique Panasonic camera, the EU123. We also incorporated drones equipped with 6K cameras. And we harmonized everything with a format, using 2.76:1, which is a widescreen format achievable now with all these cameras.”

Regarding teen newcomer Williams, who portrays 12-year-old Spike, the experience of filmmaking on iPhone is quite typical for his age group. “This was standard for me,” he shares.

*28 Years Later* is currently showing in theaters. *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple* is set for a theatrical release on Jan. 16, 2026.