As Spike is inducted into Jimmy Crystal’s gang on the mainland, Dr. Kelson makes a discovery that could alter the world.
I’ve always held the first two 28 DAYS LATER films in high regard. “28 Weeks Later,” in particular, stands out to me—not just for expanding the backstory and the virus outbreak, but also for introducing a compelling new cast of characters. When news broke that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland were returning for a new trilogy, I was genuinely excited. Yet, after watching “28 Years Later,” I found myself disappointed. The film had its moments, but it never truly captured the essence of a 28 DAYS LATER film; it felt like it shared the name, but little else.
Now, the story continues with a direct sequel, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” The film picks up immediately after the events of its predecessor. Spike (Alfie Williams), having left the island of Lindisfarne where he lived with his parents, is rescued from a pack of infected by a violent, cult-like group known as the Jimmys. This group, led by the enigmatic Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), operates under a twisted social order: to survive, Spike must fight an older teen to the death. After emerging victorious, he’s inducted into the group and renamed Jimmy like the rest. Together, they roam the English countryside, mercilessly hunting down survivors. Jimmy Crystal, who claims to be the son of Satan and regularly converses with him, instructs his followers to commit unspeakable acts of violence.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), a character from “28 Days Later,” resides at the bone temple—a haunting structure constructed of human remains as a memorial to the dead. There, he encounters Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), an evolved alpha infected who is both stronger and more intelligent than the others. When Samson attacks, Kelson subdues him with a sedative dart. Each day, Kelson calms Samson’s rage with morphine and xylazine, gradually building a strange rapport. Their sessions grow increasingly meaningful, culminating in Samson uttering his first word—a breakthrough that fills Kelson with hope. But before he can pursue this discovery, Jimmy Crystal and his followers arrive.
For me, “28 Years Later” was a mixed bag, and “The Bone Temple” evokes much the same reaction. Both films have strong moments, but neither truly recaptures the taut atmosphere or suspense of the original entries; they feel more like spiritual successors than true continuations. In many ways, they resemble extended episodes of “The Walking Dead,” where the infected are relegated to the background and the real threat comes from the surviving humans.
I appreciate the new direction—especially Kelson’s attempt to reverse the virus, a concept unexplored in previous films. Yet I can’t help but feel this story would have been stronger as a standalone or a spinoff. The decision to sideline the infected diminishes the tension; after all, it’s the speed and ferocity of the infected that made the original films so terrifying, not just their presence.
Director Nia DaCosta brings together strong performances and some truly savage scenes. The brutality displayed when Jimmy and his group attack a family in a barn is genuinely disturbing, a testament to the ruthlessness of Jimmy Crystal. Jack O’Connell delivers a chilling performance; his character, inspired by the notorious Jimmy Savile, is both repulsive and mesmerizing. The group’s uniform appearance—matching blond hair and colored tracksuits—adds a further layer of menace. Jimmy’s traumatic past and religious upbringing make him a dangerously charismatic leader for his lost followers, who are left with no moral compass in their violent world.
Some of the film’s best moments come from the interactions between Kelson and Samson, as Kelson desperately seeks connection and understanding. Even though Samson is infected, there are fleeting moments where it seems he comprehends Kelson, though his long infection has left him almost incapable of human response.
A third film is already rumored to be in pre-production, and I sincerely hope it serves as the series’s conclusion. Both “The Bone Temple” and its predecessor arrive too late to recapture the spirit of the originals. Had the series continued in the mid-2000s, soon after “28 Weeks Later,” it might have felt more cohesive. But as other franchises like Indiana Jones and Star Wars have shown, waiting over a decade or more to release a sequel often means the original audience has moved on. If “The Bone Temple” marks the end, its conclusion is satisfying enough. Otherwise, fans should brace themselves for another installment in the near future.
In Theaters Friday, January 16th
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