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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

With the release of 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE, there is no longer a question as to what the greatest franchise in horror history is. For me, there was never much room for debate, but now, four spectacular films in, the series that redefined and reignited the zombie sub-genre is infinitely better than the rest.

Picking up immediately after the events of Danny Boyle’s 28 YEARS LATER, THE BONE TEMPLE finds young Spike (Alfie Williams) in a perilous situation. While some audience members weren’t exactly enamored with the final few minutes of Boyle’s long-awaited sequel in which blonde-wigged ninjas in track suits appeared out of nowhere to slice and dice the infected, their sudden appearance makes much more sense when viewing the continuation of events in BONE TEMPLE. The group is a small cult-like operation led by Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). We were originally introduced to him as a young boy in the opening scene of 28 YEARS LATER, and now he is a fully formed psychopath who believes that Satan is his father. Spike is immediately forced into a fight-to-the-death tussle with a member of the crew and though he survives, it is just the beginning of his unimaginable plight.

Meanwhile, Spike’s old pal Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) has become increasingly intrigued by the Alpha (Chi Lewis-Parry) that he has named “Samson.” Dr. Kelson is determined to get to the root of the fundamental question of what happens to the mind of the infected. Does the virus completely take over, or is there some semblance of humanity left behind? With the aid of power opioids, he intends to find out.

Like the original 28 DAYS LATER, BONE TEMPLE is revelatory in its exploration of horror. Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by series veteran Alex Garland, it has both style and substance, and will have you pondering bigger questions long after it’s over.

In most zombie-based ventures, there are humans that are every bit as dangerous and terrifying as the monsters lurking in the shadows. Whereas the brain-dead beings are driven by an uncontrollable need to feed, the bloodlust that fuels evildoers in times of terror can be far more frightening than anything else. This is certainly the case with Jimmy and his subservient followers (who are all named “Jimmy”). Their entire purpose is to sow fear and rain violence down upon anyone unfortunate enough to cross their paths. They have no desire for a return to normalcy because Armageddon has provided them with a pathway to torture and dominance.

As the demented Jimmy, O’Connell makes a formidable and unforgettable villain. Though antagonists have always been a part of the franchise (rogue military members in the first two installments, Sampson in 28 YEARS) Jimmy is something entirely new. He is charming, well-spoken, humorous, and an ice-cold killer. He truly seems to believe in his mission, which makes him even more frightening. And, as savage as the self-proclaimed son of Satan is, Dr. Kelson is his perfect foil. The eccentric doctor carries out his gruesome work while singing Duran, Duran, and endlessly toils to find a cure while listening to Radiohead. Fiennes gives one of the finest performances of his career, which is remarkable given his incredible body of work. His conversations with Samson, though one-sided, are profound and thought-provoking, allowing us to question everything we’ve ever learned in a zombie tale. These moments perfectly encapsulate the depth and brevity of a franchise that has helped elevate horror into art.