Spike’s Defiance in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’s Most Disturbing Scene

When 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple arrived in cinemas, it didn’t just continue a cult favourite franchise—it delivered a jolt that’s still being discussed. Among the film’s many unsettling moments, one sequence in particular has become infamous: the so-called ‘Removal of the Shirt’. The scene’s blend of ritualistic violence and infected undead has ensured it lingers in the minds of viewers long after the credits roll.

Spike, who steps into the shoes of the late Jimmy, finds himself at the centre of this ordeal. The group known as the Jimmies—each member adopting the same name—have a grim tradition. Their idea of ‘charity’ involves torturing captives in a barn, a practice that’s as warped as it is horrifying. The ‘Removal of the Shirt’ is no mere euphemism; it’s a grotesque act of skinning, carried out while the victim is still alive. The muffled cries echo through the barn, a chilling soundtrack to the group’s twisted sense of benevolence.

The Charity Ritual and Its Sinister Roots

Spike’s refusal to participate in this ritual marks a turning point. Rather than follow the leader’s orders, he draws a line, declining to pursue or harm a pregnant captive. This act of defiance does not go unnoticed. The leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, is quick to brand Spike a traitor, effectively signing his death warrant. The Jimmies’ warped logic is laid bare: mercy is weakness, and dissent is punishable by death.

Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, who styles himself as the offspring of Old Nick, presides over the group with a theatrical cruelty. His use of the term ‘charity’ is a pointed mockery, echoing the real-life figure Jimmy Savile. The film draws a deliberate parallel, with Crystal’s gaudy jewellery and performative eccentricity mirroring Savile’s public persona.

“Charity that mocks Savile’s use of wishes”

is how the film frames it, a nod to the sinister reality behind the mask of benevolence.

Spike’s Stand and the Descent into Chaos

After Spike’s refusal, the narrative accelerates. The group’s leader, convinced of his own satanic lineage, interprets every act through a lens of ritual and retribution. The origins of their so-called charity are rooted in a personal mythology, with the death of Sir Lord Jimmy’s father recast as a satanic sacrifice. The cult’s beliefs are as muddled as they are menacing, and Spike’s insubordination threatens to unravel the entire order.

As the story unfolds, the film’s connection to its predecessors becomes clear. Spike’s reluctant induction into the Jimmies follows a violent coup—he’s only there because he killed one of their own. The group’s rituals, their obsession with hierarchy, and their willingness to inflict suffering all serve to heighten the sense of dread. The ‘Removal of the Shirt’ is not just a moment of horror; it’s a catalyst, setting the stage for the film’s final act.

Old Nick, Dr Ian, and the Final Reckoning

The figure of Old Nick looms large over the proceedings. Believed by some to be Sir Lord Jimmy’s father, Old Nick is eventually revealed as Dr Ian Kelson. When Jimmy Ink, another member of the group, claims to have seen Old Nick, she challenges the leader’s authority. Her intervention is decisive: rather than allow Spike’s execution, she insists that Old Nick himself should have a say.

This confrontation leads the group to Dr Ian in a scene that’s as surreal as it is intense. With Iron Maiden blaring in the background, the Jimmies are drugged and subjected to Dr Ian’s theatrical display of ‘satanic’ power. Yet, it’s all a ruse. Sir Lord Jimmy, realising Dr Ian is not his father, strikes a deal to deceive the others. Dr Ian, faced with the threat of death, agrees—an uneasy truce born of desperation.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple manages to retain the bleak energy of its predecessors while pushing the narrative into new, more disturbing territory. The film is currently showing in cinemas across the United States.