28 Years Later: The Bone Temple picks up immediately where Part One leaves off. The two films were released about six months apart—One long story split in two. But should be experienced back-to-back.
Spike (Alfie Williams) is saved by a group of kids wearing tracksuits, and blonde wigs. They follow Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). We saw him once before at the start of 28 Years Later Part One— he was the child, watching his father get torn apart inside a church.
Now Jimmy Crystal is something else entirely. An unhinged, flamboyant, and violent cult leader. His followers dress, and look like him. They fight like a unit. They hunt indiscriminately—killing humans, and infected. It doesn’t matter to them, they just kill anything in their path. Jack O’Connell is magnetic here. Completely locked in. You can’t look away. The Jimmy Crystal character clearly pulls from the shadow of Jimmy Savile — This character is unsettling with a mix of charm, spectacle, and something deeply rotten underneath.
Ralph Fiennes returns as Dr. Ian Kelson — and once again, he becomes the anchor. The only one trying to make sense of it all. Kelson approaches the virus differently. Not just as infection, but as something biological, and possibly psychological. Something that might be treated, or managed. And through that, we get a deeper look at the Alphas — Particularly Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). Dr Kelson uses Morphine to sedate Samson and fully strip him of his aggression, and violence.
The scenes between Kelson and Samson are outstanding. Especially the part where Duran Duran is playing in the background — and when Samson, high on Morphine experiences the world outside of the virus — those are some of the highlights in the film.
Nia DaCosta steps in as director, taking over from Danny Boyle, and she doesn’t try to replicate his style. There’s a different energy here. Still chaotic, but with intention behind it. A remarkable change in tone. The Bone Temple expands, and pushes the story forward. It is a thrilling, and highly satisfying movie watching experience. The final scene sets the stage for what comes next. A return to the beginning of this series, and to Cillian Murphy’s character in 28 Days Later. And it feels like this is where the story was heading all along.
28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE (2026). FOUR OUT OF FIVE POPCORN BAGS🍿🍿🍿🍿
Rod Rioja 