28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Delivers a Surreal Shock

Before its official debut, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple had already whipped up a storm among die-hard fans, thanks to secret screenings across the globe. Nia DaCosta, collaborating once more with Alex Garland’s script, picks up the narrative mere moments after Danny Boyle’s previous instalment, yet the mood here veers off in a rather unexpected direction. From the outset, the film is a jolt to the senses—easily the most eccentric and unpredictable chapter in the revived not-quite-zombie saga.

Events kick off in the immediate aftermath of Boyle’s film. Spike (Alfie Williams) finds himself in the clutches of the Jimmys—a cult whose members, disturbingly, don the garb of the infamous Jimmy Savile and echo a warped version of his catchphrase, “How’s about that then?” Their ringleader, Jack O’Connell’s “Sir” Jimmy Crystal, was a shadowy figure previously, but here his sinister intent is laid bare. Spike, after a narrow escape, is reluctantly drawn into Crystal’s orbit as the cult tears through a mainland crawling with the infected.

Clashing Forces and Unlikely Bonds

Elsewhere, Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes)—soon to be known simply as Ian—continues his research on Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), the so-called “Alpha” from the last film. Convinced he’s on the verge of a cure, Kelson’s plans are soon complicated by a run-in with the Jimmys, putting his survival skills to the test.

The plot, in truth, keeps things relatively tight. There’s less of the sweeping social commentary that coloured Boyle’s approach; instead, DaCosta’s film narrows its focus to a near-mythic struggle between good and evil, embodied by the two adults orbiting Spike. The director’s take on these themes is anything but conventional. Picture a home invasion by Savile devotees, or a stoner-style camaraderie between a man and an infected—both play out with gusto, and that’s before the film’s final act, which descends into a chaotic, almost operatic blend of music and violence. It’s a finale that’s bound to split opinion, with DaCosta leaning into the humour more than ever before in the series. The jokes are well-timed—a wry aside from Kelson here, a flamboyant gesture from Crystal there. Even Samson manages to land a laugh.

Performances and Shifting Focus

Spike, for his part, is less the centre of attention this time. Williams, who stole the show in the previous film, finds his role diminished—deliberately so, as the story pivots to Kelson and Crystal, leaving Spike caught in their crossfire. His repeated, thwarted attempts to break free lend the proceedings a sense of inertia.

Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes, however, are in top form. Crystal emerges as a memorably twisted antagonist—flamboyant, menacing, yet oddly magnetic. He’s every inch the cult leader, and DaCosta’s horror credentials shine in a particularly tense sequence that stands as the franchise’s most disturbing moment yet. The film sidesteps the real-world baggage of Crystal’s inspiration, instead using Teletubbies as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the darker corners of ‘90s British pop culture. Fiennes, meanwhile, brings a quiet dignity to Kelson, who takes on a more active role than before. There’s a faint echo of M. Gustave from The Grand Budapest Hotel—not in mannerisms, but in a certain stoic melancholy.

“There are still faint glimmers of civilisation left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity,”

could easily describe Ian Kelson’s outlook.

Franchise Threads and Future Hints

Of course, many will be curious about Jim—Cillian Murphy’s character from the original 28 Days Later, and the rumoured lead for the next sequel. Without giving too much away, his much-discussed cameo in The Bone Temple neatly ties together the franchise’s threads, hinting at what’s to come, though the future likely rests with Boyle and Garland’s next moves.

While The Bone Temple fits snugly into the broader 28 Years Later tapestry, it stands more on its own than its predecessor. It’s tempting to see this as a test run for other directors to leave their mark on the universe, in a way that 28 Weeks Later never quite managed. Or perhaps it’s simply its own beast.

Visceral Impact and Lasting Impressions

Whatever the case, DaCosta’s film is a muscular, unflinching addition to the series. Fans craving more blood and guts will find plenty to satisfy, with some of the most intense sequences yet. Those invested in the ongoing saga will appreciate the tantalising hints and strong character work. It’s DaCosta’s most accomplished feature to date, and proof that this world can thrive in hands other than Boyle’s.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple arrives in cinemas on 14 January.