28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’s Rage Virus Cure, Explained

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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the fourth movie in the (2002) series. The Bone Temple takes place after the events of 28 Years Later (2025), which sets up two important characters, Spike and Dr. Ian Kelson. Spike is the main protagonist, a young boy who sets out in search of a cure for his terminally ill mother. Spike eventually learns of a man living on his own on the mainland, a doctor named Ian Kelson, and decides to take his mother to him for treatment.

In The Bone Temple, Kelson has a more significant role. He continues to live a solitary life, maintaining the bone temple as a tribute to those who have passed away. Throughout the film, he develops a connection with Samson, the local Alpha, and regularly uses sedatives to calm him. As the story progresses, Kelson begins to believe he might be able to help, or even cure, Samson’s Rage Virus infection.

Dr. Kelson Spends Most of the Film with Samson

In 28 Years Later, Dr. Kelson uses a dart containing a powerful sedative—mostly morphine—to calm the Alpha, Samson, who roams near his house. The drug doesn’t hurt Samson, but it effectively puts him to sleep long enough for Dr. Kelson to escape any conflict. This technique consistently works whenever Samson approaches.

The scene features a memorial to those who have died, including a pregnant woman infected from the film 28 Years Later. Samson comes across Dr. Kelson as he’s carrying the woman’s body home, marking their first encounter in the movie. This interaction is a departure from Samson’s earlier displays of aggression; he appears strangely soothed by Dr. Kelson’s presence.

Kelson starts caring for Samson like a real patient, carefully removing arrows and tending to his wounds. He keeps Samson sedated with morphine for days, and during this time, he notices Samson begins to associate his visits with a sense of calm and relief. Because the Rage Virus isn’t affecting Samson while he’s drugged, Kelson starts to think Samson might be able to communicate if he can find the right way to reach him.

Kelson eventually reveals he’s almost out of the morphine needed for the calming mixture, meaning he can’t provide Samson with the relief he desperately wants. He then offers to euthanize Samson, asking for his permission. Samson is unable to agree, but just as Kelson is about to end his suffering, Samson unexpectedly says the word “moon” while looking at the sky.

After a long silence, Samson finally talked to Kelson, making him question his plan to end Samson’s life. During their time together, Kelson tried everything to help Samson recover – they danced, listened to music, and Kelson shared stories, all in an effort to wake up Samson’s mind. When Samson mumbled the word “moon,” it showed that the long periods of sedation were finally starting to help him.

Dr. Kelson started to wonder if the Rage Virus had a mental component, not just physical effects. While most doctors focused solely on the body, Kelson’s extended observation of Samson led him to believe the infected were experiencing psychosis. He theorized that when they attacked, they weren’t reacting to reality, but to hallucinations or delusions.

Kelson Treats Samson with Psychosis Medication

As a film fanatic, I’ve always found the visual choices in this movie really interesting. We get these glimpses of the world through Samson’s eyes, and it totally backs up the idea that the Rage virus isn’t just about physical aggression. It’s like it messes with their minds, making them see regular people as monsters. It’s a clever way to show how the virus spreads – they aren’t just attacking randomly, they genuinely believe they’re defending themselves against something terrifying. It explains why they’re so driven to either kill or infect others – they’re reacting to a perceived threat, not just being mindless killers.

Kelson quickly understands that healing people infected with the Rage Virus requires addressing both their physical symptoms and their mental state. He’s been using strong sedatives to manage the physical effects. When Samson is sedated, his pain disappears, and he’s able to relax and appreciate his surroundings. Remarkably, he can even look at Kelson without hostility, and the more time they spend together, the more of Samson’s memories from before the infection return.

Kelson finally gives Samson psychiatric medication, hoping it will ease his psychotic state. To everyone’s surprise, it actually works. After taking the drugs, Samson wanders to an old train car and sits down, and begins to remember his life before he was infected. He recalls a woman asking him for a train ticket, and he even says out loud that he doesn’t have one.

Samson experienced a strange reaction: the infected creatures nearby suddenly stopped seeing him as one of them and began to attack him. Surprisingly, even after being bitten and struck repeatedly, his infection didn’t worsen, hinting that he might be immune to the Rage Virus.

Having defeated the attacking group, Samson went back to Kelson’s house and found him gravely wounded from a stab injury. Samson thanked Kelson for all his kindness, pointedly ignoring Jimmy, who had been left crucified by the surviving members of Jimmy’s gang – Spike and Kelly. Samson gently lifted Kelson away from the pile of bodies, wanting to give him a respectful farewell.

Samson wasn’t cured by medication alone; it took a long time and a combination of treatments. He received pain relief with morphine, benefited from regular social interaction with Kelson, and eventually responded to anti-psychotic medication that addressed his psychosis. Because of his recovery, Samson could play a key role in sharing information about curing the Rage Virus in the future.

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2026-01-16 16:12