The 28 X Later franchise has always refused to be confined by the cliches of zombie horror. 28 Days Later focused on not only the terrors of waking up in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, but the horror that humanity will inflict on itself in said apocalypse. 28 Weeks Later focused on the stupidity of humanity, showing how one stupid human can cause the entire system to come crashing down. 28 Years Later shows the terrors of surviving the everyday apocalypse, while also giving an existential look at life and the inevitability of death. So going into 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple I wasn’t expecting a conventional zombie horror flick. But with that stated I really struggled to get on this film’s wave length.
Spike (Alfie Williams) is officially inducted into Sir Jimmy Crystal’s (Jack O’Connell) gang of acrobatic killers in post-apocalyptic Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus. They spend their days wandering the countryside killing and pillaging anyone who gets in their way which frightens Spike. While Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) forms a new relationship with one of the infected which may bring potentially world-changing consequences.
Much like its predecessors, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple refuses to box itself into the familiar cliches of zombie horror. Instead of focusing on day-to-day terror of the zombie apocalypse, The Bone Temple turns its focus towards something much more unsettling, the horrors that humanity unleashes after living in a post-apocalyptic hellscape for nearly 30-years. This thematic shift is embodied by the character of Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, played by the brilliant Jack O’Connell as he leans hard into the absurdity and camp of his character. Sir Jimmy is a sadist who enjoys the pleasure of wandering the countryside, brutally killing and skinning people alive in the name of his God and “father”, Old Nick. He exerts total control over his followers with the slick charisma and calculated manipulation you’d expect from a cult leader driven by lies and self-interest. Some of his disciples are clearly unconvinced, even repulsed by what they’re ordered to do, but with nowhere else to turn, they stay. It’s a compelling spin on the genre, reinforcing the idea that the real horror often isn’t the monsters at all, but humanity itself. And yet, for all of this ambition and insight, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple still feels like it’s missing something.
Much like the previous film, The Bone Temple suffers from a severe case of tonal whiplash. This time, though, the issue isn’t a shift from survival horror into an existential meditation on life and death. Instead, the film lurches back and forth between Sir Jimmy and his followers graphically torturing and murdering people, and Dr. Ian and the infected Alpha, Samson (Chi Lewis-Perry), getting high on morphine and dancing to Duran Duran. I prefer the later story as not only is it easier to swallow but also Ralph Fiennes is simply that magnetic. But when these two narratives collide at the end of the film, it leaves the film in this awkward middle zone. The narrative is an uneven clash between Sir Jimmy’s bleak, sadistic brutality and Dr. Ian’s lighter, almost playful energy. While the scene itself was incredibly fun to watch, it was undoubtedly awkwardly shoved into the film.
Furthermore, it’s painfully obvious that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple isn’t directed by Danny Boyle. While I respect the decision to give Nia DaCosta a degree of creative freedom, there’s a sense that something essential was lost under her direction. Whether it’s the abandonment of the iPhone cinematography that gave its predecessor such a raw, gritty, almost nasty immediacy, or the consistently janky cinematography and editing that plague scene after scene, the film often feels off-kilter. At times, it comes across as disjointed, even oddly self-contained, like it’s fighting against itself. There are certainly strong moments scattered throughout, but the direction never fully coheres, leaving the film feeling unsettled in ways that don’t seem intentional.
Ultimately I am left with mixed feelings regarding 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. It’s an ambitious yet frustrating entry into this franchise. It understands the genre’s thematic potential but struggles to shape those ideas into a cohesive whole. While the film has its moments and the performances are incredibly strong, I struggled to get on this film’s wavelength due to its tonal inconsistency and uneven direction. The Bone Temple feels less like a fully realized vision and more like a film caught between impulses. Where it leaves you intrigued, but unsatisfied to sit with.
My Rating: B-
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