28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE Is Less Poignant, Way More Fun (Review)

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Okay, so the ending of last year’s 28 Years Later really threw me – all that serious, thoughtful stuff about life and death, then suddenly a bunch of crazed guys who looked like Jimmy Savile, led by Jack O’Connell wearing a tiara, just showed up! It felt so random. But the new movie, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, written again by Alex Garland, totally delivers on that weirdness. It wasn’t just a setup, it was a hint of how completely bonkers this sequel would be! It’s not perfect – there are a few parts that feel a little slow, and some of the violence is pretty intense – but honestly, I had a blast watching it. Here’s what I thought.

Unlike previous films that focused on establishing the world and its rules, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple dives directly into a terrifying journey. Though Spike remains a key character, he takes a backseat as Dr. Kelson, a thoughtful scientist played by Ralph Fiennes, becomes the central figure. Despite the intense violence, the film offers some hope for those infected, continuing a theme from the third movie.

Continuing the story from 28 Years Later, Kelson spends most of The Bone Temple with Samson, an Alpha Infected individual (played by Chi-Lewis Parry). Kelson uses sedative-tipped blow darts on Samson, hoping they don’t just calm the Infected temporarily, but also reduce the pain that drives their aggression. Samson starts seeking out Kelson specifically for these darts, which leads Kelson to develop a theory about a possible cure for the infection.

Spike finds himself trapped in a horrifying situation under the control of Sir Jimmy Crystal, who believes he’s a vessel for Satan. Following a deeply disturbing opening sequence in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Spike is forced to take on the role of Jimmy, with only Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman) offering him any kindness. The group travels the countryside, supposedly performing acts of charity, but these turn out to be shockingly brutal torture sessions – some of the most intense seen in mainstream horror for a long time. This isn’t for sensitive viewers; the author would rather see Samson’s more straightforward violence.

Honestly, the story with Samson and Kelson really grabbed me in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. It felt a lot like Romero’s Day of the Dead, especially with Bub and the idea of a zombie regaining some humanity. But here, Fiennes’ character is much more compassionate – he genuinely seems to care about Samson as a person, not just as a potential cure. The script definitely shows us how a cure could theoretically happen, laying out the groundwork. Whether it will happen? Well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see in the next movies!

The second half of the movie might be a turn-off for some viewers. In The Bone Temple, O’Connell’s performance is excessively humorous and violent, which feels out of place compared to earlier films in the 28 Days/Years series. Jimmy and some of his followers – particularly Emma Laird as Jimmima – are genuinely frightening, and poor Spike spends most of his time either trying not to cry or being sick. The main torture scene, set on a farm, is particularly difficult to watch.

DaCosta brings a unique visual style to this film, different from Boyle’s approach, and it works well. Boyle’s style, reminiscent of the original 2000 movie, feels almost like it was filmed on a handheld camera. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, however, is more carefully paced and visually composed, avoiding the quick, jumpy editing of music videos. It’s still intense and disturbing, and the final sequence, set in the Bone Temple and lit by fire, is particularly effective – it even received applause at the critics’ screening I attended.

While 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple isn’t perfectly consistent, that’s okay. It doesn’t try to be as deeply artistic or terrifying as the previous film, and I actually found that refreshing. This movie is less heavy, less sad, and manages to be disturbing while still being fun – something the last one lacked. There’s a lightness to it, with Kelson enjoying music, Samson and Kelson having amusing conversations, and Samson even throwing in some unexpected, funny moments.

This story feels like a classic post-apocalyptic journey, not a deep commentary on society or a sign of things to come. The groundwork laid for the third book feels natural, and I’m genuinely looking forward to it. I hope readers enjoy 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple as it is, though I understand if it doesn’t appeal to everyone. Personally, I really liked it.

⭐ (4 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the weekly podcast, Laser Focus, where he dives deep into pop culture. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find him on Letterboxd.

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2026-01-14 00:03