After 28 Years, The Bone Temple Delivers a Thrilling New Chapter in the Zombie Series.

A month ahead of its official debut, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has already made waves among fans at screenings worldwide. Directed by Nia DaCosta and based on a script by Alex Garland, this installment picks up right after the events of Danny Boyle’s previous film, yet it ventures into a distinctly different tonal territory. From the get-go, it delivers a visceral and adrenaline-fueled experience, marking it as the wildest and most bizarre entry in the revived sort-of-zombie saga.

The story resumes shortly after Boyle’s film, introducing us to Spike (Alfie Williams), who finds himself entangled with the Jimmys—a murderous cult grotesquely inspired by the infamous figure Jimmy Savile, who often echoes his catchphrase, “How’s about that then?” Their leader, Jack O’Connell’s “Sir” Jimmy Crystal, was a shadowy figure at the end of the previous film, but his sinister nature is quickly revealed. We meet Spike as he fights for survival against one of the cult members. A stroke of luck allows him to escape death, and he is subsequently taken under Crystal’s wing as the cult wreaks havoc across the infected mainland.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), who will later be known as Ian, continues his experiments on Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), the “Alpha” from the last film. He believes he has found a potential cure for the infected, but first, he must survive an encounter with the Jimmys.

In terms of overarching plot, that’s about it. This film presents a more contained narrative, focusing less on societal metaphors than Boyle’s work. Instead, The Bone Temple unfolds as a biblically-inspired clash between good and evil, centered around the two troubled adults in Spike’s life.

DaCosta’s approach to these themes is intriguingly offbeat. The film features a home invasion by Jimmy Savile acolytes and a stoner bromance between a man and an infected individual, both of which play significant roles—though they barely scratch the surface of the film’s wild energy, especially in the climactic act.

The finale is a tragi-comic spectacle that fuses music and chaos in a thrilling manner, likely to spark divided opinions. DaCosta leans into the humor more than previous entries in the franchise, but it feels well-balanced—offering a rueful quip from Kelson here and a theatrical moment from Crystal there. Even Samson manages to elicit a laugh at one point.

However, Spike is not sharing in the laughter. While Alfie Williams shone in the first film, his role here is more limited, which is a deliberate choice—this story primarily revolves around Kelson and Crystal, leaving Spike caught in the middle. This shift creates a sense of stagnation, as his attempts to escape are consistently thwarted.

Fortunately, both Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes deliver outstanding performances. Jimmy Crystal stands out as one of the most memorable screen villains in recent years—a delightfully malevolent showman with a believable dark charisma that makes him a convincing cult leader.

DaCosta’s horror background serves her well, particularly in one scene that stands out as the franchise’s most disturbing moment to date. It’s perhaps a relief that the real-world implications of Crystal’s inspiration are left unexamined, with the Teletubbies instead symbolizing the darker side of ’90s British pop culture.

Fiennes brings a sense of melancholy nobility to Kelson, who takes on a more active role in the narrative. There are echoes of his previous character, M. Gustave from The Grand Budapest Hotel, not in mannerisms but in his stoic sadness. A line from that film could aptly describe Ian Kelson: “There are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity.”

Fans will undoubtedly be curious about Jim—Cillian Murphy’s character from the original 28 Days Later and the intended lead in the upcoming third film. While we won’t delve too deeply into that here, it’s worth noting that his well-publicized cameo in The Bone Temple serves as a clever connection between the first and potentially the last films in the series.

The future of the franchise likely hinges on the plans of its original creators. While The Bone Temple fits into the larger 28 Years Later narrative, it feels more self-contained than its predecessor. This could suggest that the film serves as a test run for other directors to explore this universe more intentionally than the poorly received 28 Weeks Later.

Regardless, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a robust, visceral, and largely satisfying continuation of Boyle’s film. Gore enthusiasts who felt let down by the previous installment will find their cravings satisfied with some of the franchise’s most brutal scenes yet, while those invested in the ongoing story will appreciate the tantalizing hints for the future and solid character development. It’s DaCosta’s best work to date, proving that someone other than Boyle can craft a gripping tale in this universe. Howzat?

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hits theaters on January 14.