In my “28 Years Later” review, I claimed the movie “carved out a future that looks very promising for the franchise,” and that’s a quote I still stand by (and I’m glad I said it, because it’s very much come true). Almost seven months later, we have the sequel “The Bone Temple,” and after attending an early screening in December, I’ve been bursting at the seams to talk about it. It’s a phenomenal piece of work.
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Welcome to Screen, Stream, Skip, a column where Tom’s Guide writers check out the latest new theatrical movie releases and then tell you whether they’re worth watching on the big screen, waiting for streaming, or can be skipped entirely.
Danny Boyle handed the reins of this sequel to Nia DaCosta, who has not only continued the franchise naturally but also crafted a truly special horror movie with a deeply human core. I was initially worried about whether the planned trilogy could continue, especially when the third movie’s approval hinged on how “The Bone Temple” performed. However, the early reactions alone were enough for Sony to greenlight the third sequel. If that doesn’t convince you this is a good movie, I don’t know what will.
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is a small story with a much larger impact. It’s completely unhinged, zeroing in on the idea that humanity is far worse than the virus itself. Everything about this sequel is exceptional, and I couldn’t be more relieved as a huge fan of the franchise. But is it worth seeing on the big screen?
Alix Blackburn
Horror is my favorite genre, and reviewing new releases is something I genuinely enjoy. January might be known as a dump month, but sometimes the best scares arrive when you least expect them…
‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ is horror done to perfection
“28 Years Later” ended with a controversial scene that may be tonally jarring to some, but it leads perfectly into “Bone Temple” as it picks up straight after. Spike (Alfie Williams), after leaving his island community to venture across the mainland, encounters a bizarre group of survivors led by the strange Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). While this scene initially presents them in a cartoonish way with exaggerated martial moves, it makes much more sense in the sequel, where you see how their perception of the world has been severely warped.
The opening scene actually prepares you for how brutal the rest of the movie will be. This cult (referred to as the “Jimmies”) has a ritualistic initiation in which, in order to join, you must murder one of the members to replace them. Even from this scene alone, confined in an empty pool with Jimmy watching over them like a king, the movie presents the overarching message this sequel wants to achieve: Humanity is capable of far more cruelty than the virus itself.
From there, we witness this cult’s awful crimes and their delusional way of thinking. Clearly, the leader Jimmy has experienced severe trauma, as we learn in the opening scene of “28 Years Later,” when he was the only child in his community to survive, hiding under the floor of a church as his father was mauled to death by the infected. O’Connell (who I knew would be incredible after his performance in “Sinners”) gives a performance that makes you feel every part of Jimmy’s disturbed psyche. And that’s just one example of the strong character work.
While we primarily follow Spike and the cult, there’s another storyline with Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) from the previous movie. He continues his life surrounded by his bone temple and experiments with a new calming medicine on the infected Alpha male he’s named Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). This storyline provides a much-needed break from the intensity of the cult and delivers some major revelations about what the virus is truly capable of. Not to mention it adds a human touch in such a dark landscape.
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is made even stronger by its central performances, most notably from Fiennes, who puts his heart and soul into one of the best scenes I’ve ever watched. I don’t want to give anything away, as it’s best experienced with little prior knowledge, but the combination of soundtrack and camerawork left me (and everyone in the screening room) applauding. For that sequence, and the delicate moments sprinkled throughout this sequel, Fiennes truly deserves an award.
Nia DaCosta clearly has a passion for this franchise, respecting the existing source material and lore while adding her own vision. “28 Years Later” retains stronger aesthetic ties to the 2002 movie, but this sequel delivers an even bigger impact. There have been countless ‘zombie’ movies that focus on humanity being worse, but it’s how you handle it that matters, and DaCosta executes it brilliantly.
Verdict: You need to see ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ on the big screen
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is easily the best movie in the franchise, and that includes the original “28 Days Later.” While that might be a hot take for some, it’s a testament to how this sequel honors the franchise while delivering a genuinely stunning horror experience. There are still plenty of scenes with the infected, showing how they roam and (disgustingly) devour, with genuinely brutal moments that had me hiding behind my hands.
When I say brutal, I truly mean it, so if you have a weak stomach, consider yourself warned. After all, this is a movie about ravenous infected and a dangerous cult.
I could go on about how “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is a masterpiece of a film, but we’d be here all day. Instead, I urge you to see this sequel on the big screen for its incredible visuals, sound design, and the experience of witnessing such a powerful story. This one deserves the biggest screen possible, and you shouldn’t wait until it hits streaming. Now I’m even more excited for the third movie (Alex Garland, I have faith you’ll deliver another great script).
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is now in U.K. cinemas and will hit U.S theaters on January 16.
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