Coming just seven months after its predecessor, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple marks the fastest turnaround we’ve ever seen in this franchise. Usually, we’re waiting years or decades between these instalments, but the proximity here makes total sense once you see the film.
These two entries feel like one massive, interconnected piece of work. A lot of the questions and setups from the first movie find their answers here, especially regarding that controversial ending from seven months ago.
If you remember my take on the previous film, I had a huge problem with the deus ex machina finale. It felt like "Power Ranger" superheroes just dropped out of the sky to save Spike from the zombies. It was jarring and felt unearned.
The Bone Temple fixes that by making the entire story about those people, the Jimmies. It strips away the mystery of those "superhero" characters and grounds them in a way that actually makes them the best part of this sequel.
While the first film wasn't exactly the triumphant return to form the trailers promised, it was plagued by an uneven script, convenience and a head-scratching ending, this sequel feels much more deliberate and focused
A good villian
Jack O’Connell is fantastic as the lead antagonist. He plays a charismatic, unpredictable, and ruthless villain, who makes some stupid decisions at times.
He’s one of those villains who thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room when he’s actually quite the opposite, and that makes him fascinating to watch. O'Connell brings so much life to the role that you’re perversely entertained by him, even though you’re dying to see him suffer for what he does.
And he does some truly terrible things. Unlike the first movie, which felt a bit romanticised and "cinematic," The Bone Temple is brutal. It goes to uncomfortable places, specifically with the "Jimmys", that group of young people.
There’s a moment with the zombies that are hard to watch, but it's the human-to-human cruelty that will make you look away, which, unlike the first movie, captures just how ugly this world can be.
Character Moments
The heart of the film, surprisingly, lies with Ralph Fiennes. Reprising his role as the doctor/owner of the temple. Some of my favourite sequences are the quiet, weird moments between him and "Samson," the Alpha. And a moment in the third act where he has to put on an act.
I thought the movie thoughtfully handled the "zombie" perspective. We get flashes of what they see and why they attack. There’s even a moment where Samson is almost "healed," catching a glimpse of the man he used to be before the virus pulls him back under. It’s a simple yet effective moment that adds a layer to the tragedy of the monsters.
There’s also a very interesting use of music and performance. Fiennes has this "acolytal" performance that is beautifully shot and borders on the supernatural.
It’s a choice that actually works because the direction feels so much more structured and focused this time around, allowing the bone temple to be given that grant cinematic look. The direction helps you get a clear goal on who you’re rooting for, who you hate, and the tension feels organic rather than manufactured.
Infact I thought the direction saves the screenplay. If you were to close your eyes and just listen to the dialogue, it’s honestly a bit surface-level. The first and second acts rely on standard writing, and it’s only the performances and the visual staging that elevate it into something compelling.
The editing is tight, and the world-building, including the established nudity (and there is a lot of male nudity) and grit of this universe, feels consistent with the brand. It doesn't feel like it's trying to be "prestige horror"; it just feels like a solid, mean survival film.
My frustrations
My biggest issue is the serialised structure. At the end, the movie introduces a major cameo that everyone was waiting for, but it’s used primarily to set up the next movie. I’ve said it before: I don't like journeys where the destination is constantly being moved. I want a story to stand on its own feet, but this franchise seems determined to keep you on a hook for the next instalment.
The ending at the temple itself is cathartic and satisfying in the moment for those who were invested in the characters, but it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed once the credits rolled.
Despite the strong performances and the "Alpha" subplot, the final resolution for Fiennes’ character felt a bit flat, even with the performance that does. I understand that in this universe, survival is the primary motivation, but I also thought it took a bit of time to put together the secondary motivations for a lot of the characters.
Final thoughts
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a decent theatrical experience. It’s not the "masterpiece of the year" that some early reviews are claiming, but it’s a massive step up in terms of this universe's lore, logic and tone.
It holds your hand just enough to keep you caught up with the lore while pushing the boundaries of what these characters are willing to do to each other.
It’s brutal, it’s well-directed, and it’s worth a watch if you’re a fan of the genre, even if it’s more interested in being a bridge to the next film than being a definitive ending.
