Last year, this infected franchise was brought back to life with 28 Years Later, helmed by original creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Now, just 7 months later, the next installment of the story continues. Though Boyle and Garland are still very much in charge where writing and production is concerned, this time around, the director reins have been handed over to Nia DaCosta. The story largely focuses on the already introduced Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), as he finds himself in a shocking new relationship with consequences that could change the world as they know it, whilst Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. Expanding on the themes and character work put forward so beautifully in 28 Years later, The Bone Temple is a fantastic continuation of this story, with plenty more stomach-churning gore, excellent performances and some of the most memorable set pieces the franchise has seen thus far.
Very much a tale of two parts, The Bone Temple picks up exactly where its predecessor left off. After being saved from a group of infected by Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his band of Jimmy’s, Spike now finds himself trapped with the dangerous gang headed by a fearsome leader who believes himself to be the son of Satan. Though their maniacal, murderous behavior is not something Spike wants to get involved with, leaving the group could put his life in more danger than staying put. A short distance across the mainland, Fiennes’ Dr. Kelson has formed a bond where you’d least expect it – with an Alpha. Attempting to find ways to calm, and even somewhat cure, his Alpha friend Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), a very intriguing dynamic is presented that offers up something very new to this franchise. Both of these stories continue the expert themes put forward by last years installment; its no longer the infected that are the threat, but the people who have survived them. Jimmy Crystal and Dr. Kelson may seem like two completely different men with completely different ideals, but both worlds collide in an epic sequence bound to be remembered as one of the most exciting and entertaining set pieces of the year, and the franchise overall. Kelson and Crystal symbolize how anger, emotion and core memories stay with us, warping our world view and determining our actions hereon.
The whole cast come together well to create a true ensemble piece that really sell these themes and ideas to the audience, yet the true standout here is Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel) as Ian Kelson. He has a naturally funny and charming air about him that we didn’t quite get to experience before, as we see him live his day-to-day new normal in his temple of bones. Dancing with Alpha Samson to Duran Duran and putting on one hell of a show for The Jimmies are just two examples in which Fiennes leaves viewers both in awe and eruptions of laughter. Don’t let that fool you – he’s certainly dark and menacing when he needs to be. Jack O’Connell is also wonderful as the evil, manipulative Jimmy Crystal, warranting his somewhat random inclusion into the last act of last years flick. O’Connell does a great job at nailing the threatening, evil behavior that makes the audience and his followers fear him, but also does well to show that he’s uncertain, making it up as he goes along. Manipulating his followers who clearly doubt some of his ideals and views, yet stick with him anyway, Jimmy is a highly interesting yet manic character that O’Connell excels in all aspects of. Though Spike is slightly less of a focal point here, the character still receives decent development when needed, and Alfie Williams continues to shine. It’s also great to see Chi Lewis-Parry get to flex his acting chops more as Samson gets a proper arc here. The whole cast are wonderful.
As the story focuses more on character, that is where most of our horror comes from, but gorehounds should not be put off by this notion. The Bone Temple really ups the ante when it comes to gore and kills. As we soon come to learn throughout the run-time, humans are able to inflict much more violent, stomach-wrenching and evil behavior than the infected. Jimmy Crystal and his gang frequently commit the most violent acts unto their victims, many of which are beyond normal human imagination and will shock even seasoned horror viewers. The film doesn’t shy away from showing these acts, ensuring The Bone Temple isn’t for the faint of heart. There is still action aplenty, and the threat of the infected still looms on our characters. The Bone Temple also manages to scare psychologically, ensuring we are constantly on edge when spending time with a slew of dangerous people. The true horror behind Jimmy Crystal is how he weaponizes faith to control those around him and invoke violence. 2025’s edition managed to make us bond with Spike, so experiencing him in peril throughout this movie increases the stakes and tension tenfold. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple proves that horror doesn’t always mean scary in the literal, aesthetic sense – sometimes, it’s within the dialogue, themes and beliefs of our characters.
Bringing all the complexity and chaos together is an expert display of filmmaking from the entire team. Nia DaCosta brings her own flair into the directors chair, whilst also ensuring the film fits tidily alongside the rest of the franchise. Visually, the film is electrifying, with multiple set pieces that play around with the elements in ways we’re yet to see. The soundtrack is great as always, blending well known songs from the likes of Radiohead and Iron Maiden with a wonderful original score from Holder Guonadottir to ensure that music is still a focal point of this franchise. If you ever need an example of how important music supervision can be, look no further than The Bone Temple. The story itself is intriguing and well paced, balancing its deep character and theme study with intensity, violence and action to create quite the all-rounder. All gore on display is realistic and believable, as are the well-explained actions of our characters that would otherwise seem unfathomable. The script injects a whirlwind of dark humor into the mix, creating an uneasy yet commendable balance with the more frightful elements. It’s surprisingly a really funny time at the movies. The cherry on top are the surprises in store for the long-time fans, alongside certain developments that show plenty of promise for what may lie ahead.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple excels in its ability to create such a thought-provoking character study against a fearful, chaotic and downright crazy backdrop. Everything that occurs is wild and unruly, yet it somehow makes sense, has a lot to say and comes together well. The gore is impressive and gruesome, the characters are consistently intriguing, the performances are outstanding and the story is gripping and intricate. Worth seeing on the big screen due to one of the coolest third act set pieces in recent memory, The Bone Temple is both an entertaining riot and a thought-provoking piece of commentary.
