I watched 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, it is the perfect film within the franchise

[ad_1] 28 Years Later reinvigorated Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s beloved zombie movie saga, however its new sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set one other excessive bar for the franchise. Shot back-to-back with 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple follows Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) as he bonds with the Alpha zombie Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) and makes an attempt to remedy him of the Rage Virus. In the meantime, younger Spike (Alfie Williams) reluctantly joins Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his cult of Satanists.

After 28 Years Later launched to an enormous, new post-apocalyptic story , The Bone Temple pushed the franchise even additional with its partaking characters, thought-provoking narrative, and distinctive type. Whereas it’s solely January, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has already confirmed itself to be probably the greatest movies of 2026.

Nia DaCosta’s path

<img decoding="async" width="1920" height="791" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1920%2C791" alt="A wide shot of a monument of skulls and bones in 28 Years Later The Bone Temple." class="wp-image-5944811" srcset="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?w=1920 1920w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=325%2C134 325w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=720%2C297 720w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=220%2C91 220w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1536%2C633 1536w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=460%2C190 460w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/A-wide-shot-of-a-monument-of-skulls-and-bones-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=640%2C264 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px"/> Sony / Sony

Although Boyle wasn’t again within the director’s chair for The Bone Temple, filmmaker Nia DaCosta (Hedda) preserves the punk rock spirit of 28 Years Later within the sequel. The visuals and motion scenes in DaCosta’s movie are similar to these in its predecessor, that includes the identical shaky camerawork and shut, GoPro-style photographs. We're additionally handled to some beautiful time-lapse sequences of the titular temple.

Nevertheless, DaCosta distinguishes herself from Boyle with a extra balanced type of filmmaking that builds on the place the earlier movie fell quick. For one factor, The Bone Temple doesn’t splice in any previous footage of historic battles, making it a much less jarring and extra immersive viewing expertise.

Additionally, relatively than the action-packed zombie journey seen in 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple is extra of a slow-burning horror film and character examine. As a substitute of counting on high-octane chase scenes and bounce scares to hook audiences, the sequel focuses extra on growing the characters launched within the earlier movie as they face new, terrifying challenges. This method creates heart-pounding suspense and extra grounded human drama.

A game-changing narrative

<img decoding="async" width="1770" height="1000" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1770%2C1000" alt="Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) reaching out to touch Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) in 28 Years Later The Bone Temple." class="wp-image-5943564" srcset="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?w=1770 1770w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=325%2C184 325w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=720%2C407 720w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=220%2C124 220w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1536%2C868 1536w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=336%2C190 336w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-reaching-out-to-touch-Samson-Chi-Lewis-Parry-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=640%2C362 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1770px) 100vw, 1770px"/> Sony / Sony

Like 28 Days Later, The Bone Temple explores the darkness within the human coronary heart introduced out by societal collapse. As Jimmy and his servants, the Fingers, wreak havoc and homicide innocents within the title of Devil, the franchise exhibits as soon as once more how people will be even worse than the Contaminated. The best way they go from infantile dancing and speak of Teletubbies to skinning individuals alive makes them particularly unsettling.

The Bone Temple additionally delves deeper into the extremes persons are keen to go to to outlive and preserve some sense of order. Ink (Erin Kellyman), for example, clearly doesn’t need to be a part of Jimmy’s cult, however she is so afraid of being alone within the zombie-filled wilderness that she desperately clings to Jimmy, finishing up bloody murders for him, and encourages Spike to do the identical.

She even accepts Jimmy’s twisted spiritual views, discovering consolation within the extra structured world of Devil and demons as an alternative of considered one of science and probability. Nevertheless, when Ink accepts Kelson’s extra atheistic views, we will really feel her horror in her eyes on the considered being alone in a darkish, chaotic universe.

General, The Bone Temple additional blurs the traces between people and the Contaminated, emphasizing higher compassion and understanding towards the latter. 28 Years Later confirmed how there was hope for the Contaminated when Isla (Jodie Comer) helped a pregnant zombie (Celi Crossland) give delivery to a human youngster.

Nevertheless, each Kelson and the viewers acquire higher data of how the Contaminated assume and the way the virus will be stopped. After 28 Weeks Later hinted {that a} remedy might be developed, The Bone Temple delivers on that promise by Kelson, which has robust implications for the franchise going ahead.

A world crammed with compelling characters

<img decoding="async" width="1770" height="1000" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1770%2C1000" alt="Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) with his hand on his head in 28 Years Later The Bone Temple." class="wp-image-5943572" srcset="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?w=1770 1770w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=325%2C184 325w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=720%2C407 720w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=220%2C124 220w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1536%2C868 1536w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=336%2C190 336w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Dr.-Kelson-Ralph-Fiennes-with-his-hand-on-his-head-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=640%2C362 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1770px) 100vw, 1770px"/> Sony / Sony

Dr. Kelson was one of many highlights of 28 Years Later, notably because of Ralph Fiennes’s distinctive efficiency, and the Oscar-nominated actor receives a a lot larger highlight within the sequel. We comply with him as he climbs out of his pit of loneliness by bonding with Samson, forming an uncommon and heartwarming friendship we didn’t know we wanted. Significantly, how typically do you see an orange man dance to ’80s music with a nude zombie?

Samson himself is one other spotlight of The Bone Temple. Because of Kelson’s kindness and medical data, we see the hulking Alpha rediscover his humanity as his Rage-induced psychosis fades, regaining the flexibility to talk and bear in mind his life earlier than the an infection. Whereas I questioned why Kelson didn’t kill Samson in 28 Years Later, I now hope we see extra of the latter after The Bone Temple.

Spike has an identical journey as he bonds with Ink. Although she encourages Spike to stick with Jimmy, she involves doubt her chief’s beliefs by her new friendship and finally escapes her murderous life, attaining redemption very like Samson.

<img decoding="async" width="1815" height="792" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1815%2C792" alt="Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) with his hand to his temple in 28 Years Later The Bone Temple" class="wp-image-5944459" srcset="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?w=1815 1815w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=325%2C142 325w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=720%2C314 720w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=220%2C96 220w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=1536%2C670 1536w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=435%2C190 435w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/Jimmy-Crystal-Jack-OConnell-with-his-hand-to-his-temple-in-28-Years-Later-The-Bone-Temple.jpg?resize=640%2C279 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1815px) 100vw, 1815px"/> Sony / Sony

The Bone Temple additionally does justice to its predominant villain, Jimmy, after his temporary introduction in 28 Years Later. The sequel peels again the layers of his character, revealing how his tragic childhood formed him into the Mansonesque monster he's immediately. We see how he's making an attempt to recreate the household he misplaced and reconnect together with his father, whom he conflated with Devil after seeing him get contaminated and lead the zombie “demons” of their rampage.

However like many different cult leaders, we see Jimmy lose management of his followers as their religion and numbers diminish. However when everybody thinks Kelson is Devil, his beliefs are shattered, and he resorts to lies and threats with a view to preserve energy. The egotistical villain has a becoming finish when his former followers crucify him, and he imagines seeing his “father” depart him behind.

Jimmy is much more compelling because of actor Jack O’Connell’s menacing, charismatic efficiency. Whereas he proved he might play top-tier villains together with his efficiency in Sinners, his portrayal of Jimmy establishes him as one of the gifted and terrifying actors in trendy cinema.

Whereas The Bone Temple units a excessive bar for the franchise, Sony has greenlit a 3rd 28 Years Later movie, which might be even higher. Now we have already seen the long-awaited return of Cillian Murphy because the franchise’s first protagonist, the one true Jim, bringing the saga full circle. Hopefully, Spike and Jim’s upcoming journey can reside as much as the excessive expectations set by The Bone Temple.