REVIEW: “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” (2026)

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Danny Boyle revisited the terrifying world of fast zombies he created with the 2002 film “28 Days Later” in last year’s “28 Years Later.” The original movie was followed by “28 Weeks Later” in 2007, and then a continuation set in 2025. The third film, co-written by Alex Garland, jumps forward 28 years after the second outbreak, introducing fresh faces while also offering plenty of nods to the series’ earlier installments for longtime fans.

I didn’t have issues with how “28 Years Later” looked. Danny Boyle did a great job of showing a bleak, broken-down world and the terrifying things living within it. My problem was with the messy and hurried ending. Even more damaging was the unbelievable way the film concluded – it actually detracted from the experience and didn’t feel like a good setup for a sequel.

Great sequels often enhance the original film, but that isn’t true for “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” While director Nia DaCosta clearly understands the grim and intense atmosphere of this world, the script by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland holds her back. It forces her to juggle two separate plotlines that eventually come together, but the result feels underwhelming.

The last movie ended with 12-year-old Spike being ‘saved’ by a strange group wearing blonde wigs and tracksuits, who move with incredible speed. This new film starts with that group’s leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, forcing Spike to fight one of his followers to the death – all to prove he’s worthy of joining the cult. Spike wins the fight, but is forced to join the group, quickly discovering they are dangerously unstable and brutally torture and ‘sacrifice’ anyone who crosses their path.

The film revisits Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), the intriguing character known for his Bone Temple, a memorial to those lost to the virus. This time around, when he’s not listening to Duran Duran, he’s spending time with Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), a powerful Alpha—the same Alpha who was brutally violent in the previous film. Now, Samson is Dr. Kelson’s test subject and companion, a surprising turn for the formerly fearsome character.

The script struggles to balance two storylines, and neither one feels particularly important to the main plot. Spike’s involvement with The Jimmy’s is especially confusing – they’re essentially dangerous criminals devoted to a ridiculous leader, and they aren’t very compelling characters. This focus on the cult’s mayhem also overshadows Spike’s personal journey, leaving his coming-of-age story underdeveloped.

Director DaCosta faced a difficult challenge with this film: taking a weak story and making it work. A major problem is the movie’s inconsistent tone, jumping rapidly between dark seriousness and over-the-top comedy. She also needed to distract viewers from several obvious plot holes. For instance, the film doesn’t address what happened to the survivors on Lindisfarne, or why Spike’s father didn’t try to find him after hearing his desperate cries.

“The Bone Temple” largely sidelines the infected creatures, except for Samson, making them feel less threatening than in the previous movie. The constant, gripping tension of navigating the forest is missing. Instead, the infected appear only when the plot demands, and director DaCosta doesn’t quite capture the same dynamic and energetic action style as Boyle did in the first film.

“The Bone Temple” explores themes of cruelty, the source of evil, and sharply criticizes faith. However, these ideas feel limited and don’t fully develop. The film’s two storylines also feel separate for too long before awkwardly connecting. Ultimately, it feels like the movie lacks a clear direction or purpose. The inconsistent tone, excessive violence, and uneven pacing only add to these problems.

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2026-01-16 18:58