28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – A New Chapter in the Zombie Series
If you’re into horror, you might have seen 2001’s *28 Days Later*. It was one of Danny Boyle’s earlier works, starring a then-little-known actor, Cillian Murphy—who, funny enough, is now an Oscar winner. The plot? A virus wreaks havoc in the UK, transforming infected individuals into furious, zombie-like creatures. Six years later, *28 Weeks Later* was released, featuring a different cast with talents like Jeremy Renner and Rose Byrne, but still tied to that initial pandemic theme—Boyle was behind the scenes as an executive producer instead of directing this time around.
After 18 years of quiet, *28 Years Later* premiered last summer, with Boyle returning to the director’s chair and Murphy even taking on an executive producer role. This installment is a noticeable shift from what came before, leaning more toward artistic expression rather than sheer horror.
Now, let’s get into *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple*.
Though it could help to have seen the earlier films, at least watching *28 Years Later* is useful, as the events of *The Bone Temple* pick up right after and revisit familiar characters.
The story weaves two narratives that converge in an intriguing way. The first follows a young man named Spike (Alfie Williams) as he ventures from his isolated village to the mainland. There, he meets Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), a cult leader who offers him safety in exchange for loyalty. Spike soon finds himself in a rather unsettling initiation, which involves him needing to kill another member of the cult—something he hesitates to do despite the pressure.
The second narrative revolves around Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), who also featured in the previous film. Once a doctor, he is now secluded from the world and spends his time building fortresses out of skeletons—yes, that’s really a thing here. Amid his bizarre hobby, he’s trying to concoct a cure for viruses, using an unlikely subject: a massive zombie referred to as “Alpha” from the last film, whom he whimsically nicknames Samson.
Given that Ian’s interactions with this zombie may seem, well, questionable to some, watching the two form a sort of partnership does bring an odd sense of humor to the story. It’s a strange and interesting dynamic.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of *The Bone Temple* is that, despite being labeled as horror, it doesn’t pack the same terrifying punch as its predecessors. Sure, there are jump scares and some gore, but the ambient fear that lingered in *28 Days Later* and *28 Weeks Later* seems dimmed here, though that doesn’t mean it’s dull.
As for performances, Fiennes brings a quirky, comedic flair to his role, while O’Connell dives deep into portraying his character’s twisted charm. Williams’s performance as Spike is compelling, especially as he navigates the challenges of youth. And we shouldn’t forget Erin Kellyman, who plays a member of Jimmy’s crew and keeps the viewer guessing on whether she can be trusted.
Nia DaCosta is stepping in to direct this chapter, having made her mark in horror with the *Candyman* remake. However, her take feels a bit bland compared to Boyle’s earlier vision. Luckily, Alex Garland is back to pen the screenplay for *The Bone Temple*, so there’s still some familiar brilliance in play.
Verdict:
Releasing a sequel only seven months after its predecessor might raise some eyebrows, but *The Bone Temple* does carve out its own identity well enough to justify this quick return to the franchise. Fans of the *28* series will likely embrace this next chapter. Still, its appeal to broader audiences might be more of a challenge. Regardless, *The Bone Temple* certainly adds an interesting layer to this expanding “Zombieverse.”
★★★ — Stream later
*28 Years Later: The Bone Temple* is rated R for intense violence, gore, graphic nudity, strong language, and brief drug use. Its runtime is 1 hour and 50 minutes, and it’s currently showing in theaters.
