Last year’s 28 Years Later was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There are parts of the film I really liked, but I felt the film ended on a tonal shift that didn’t quite work for me. Nevertheless, I was quite intrigued with how the next installment would play out. With Nia DaCosta taking over the directorial duties from Danny Boyle, I wanted to see how a fresh perspective would play out. It seems that screenwriter Alex Garland has a solid overall vision for these new chapters, and I am glad that is the case, because The Bone Temple proves to be a much more enjoyable, entertaining film, while still delivering the expected shocking content this franchise is known for.
Immediately after the events of the previous film, Spike has fallen into the hands of the Jimmy gang. A group of mullet-wig-wearing, track-suited young adults who happen to worship Satan. Led by Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), the Jimmys have managed to survive the virus and kill the infected by any means necessary. As they move place-to-place, they eventually encounter the former physician, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), whom Sir Lord Jimmy thinks could be the supreme leader he has been seeking. Meanwhile, Kelson manages to connect with the infected alpha he has named Samson and has found a way to communicate with him peacefully.
I will say that fans expecting more zombie violence and attacks will be disappointed, but I am on the opposite end of that spectrum. I found it refreshing that this film minimizes what is similar to its previous installments while still delivering solid entertainment and world-building. Instead of more of the same, The Bone Temple gives its audience a different side of this universe, and one that is absolutely fun, exciting, and sometimes hilarious.
In some ways, The Bone Temple makes the previous installment a better movie. There is a lot of setup and recall involved in reintroducing this franchise, but I still feel that Garland’s organization of the story is a bit messy. However, when we, the audience, get to see how the pieces fall into place, it is rather satisfying in the most amusing and thrilling ways.
As for the acting, I continue to be pleased and impressed by Ralph Fiennes, who is wonderful as Dr. Kelson. Young Alfie Williams also continues to impress as Spike. I definitely appreciated the character of Lord Sir Jimmy Crystal, as portrayed by Jack O’Connell in this movie, more than I did in the previous movie. Erin Kellyman, who caught my attention in Marvel Studios’ Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Solo, is a great addition to this film as one of the more reasonable members of Jimmy’s gang.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is an absolute blast of a movie that I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I do. Nia DaCosta and her crew do an exceptional job of bringing Alex Garland’s vision to life. It is my hope, no, my craving, that this movie achieves enough success to make the next chapter. I do sincerely hope that Garland’s overall vision plays out successfully and that if DaCosta does not return, the studio chooses a director as able as she is.