28 Years Later Finds Its Pulse in The Bone Temple (2026)

I vividly remember seeing 28 Days Later in theaters during its 2002 release. The film introduced a new kind of zombie—their speed was astonishing, as fast as a gazelle, allowing them to chase down victims with relentless agility. They vomited copious amounts of blood, adding to their grotesque appearance, and their viciousness was comparable to that of a rabid animal, making them incredibly terrifying. I found myself both fascinated and grossed out—my favorite combination of reactions.

When 28 Years Later was announced, I was ecstatic, as were most horror fans. As I said my nightly prayers and hoped for Cillian Murphy's return, my hopes were not fulfilled in the first installment of this new trilogy.

Instead, we received a film, I’m sorry to say, that did not meet my expectations. I disliked the editing and the iPhone 15 footage, which gave me whiplash and made the movie look sloppy overall. Yet the story was intriguing enough that I wanted to see 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, especially with that strange ending.

No spoilers, but like most, I was left thinking, “Huh?” Although the film discouraged me, I was intrigued.

While 28 Years Later was directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, who also directed 28 Days Later, Nia DaCosta directed The Bone Temple (with Garland writing the script). I have the utmost respect for Boyle and Garland for their contributions to the universe, but I was excited to see another head at the helm, especially a woman of color!

DaCosta is known for her rendition of Candyman (2021), which is spectacular, so my excitement for The Bone Temple was off the charts.

The Bone Temple picks up where the first one left off, with two storylines that unfold simultaneously and ultimately intersect. First, you have the Jimmies, who made a brief appearance in the first film. They are led by Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), who dons a tracksuit, several gold necklaces, and a set of teeth that haven’t seen a toothbrush in possibly 28 years. His followers all wear similar garb, with blond wigs to match, and are called his “fingers” or just “Jimmy”. Spike (Alfie Williams) unwillingly joins this group, one part for survival, one part because he didn’t have a choice.

As the story goes on, you see how dangerous this group really is and what their vile intentions are. Their actions are incredibly visceral, keep you on edge for almost the entire runtime, and create an atmosphere of dread. I want to see Halloween costumes of them this coming fall.

Note to self: dress the husband, 4-year-old, and me up at the Jimmies.

On the other hand, we have Dr. Ian Kelson, who is living in his Bone Temple haven. He begins experimenting with his closeness to the Alpha zombie (Chi Lewis-Parry), and we see an interesting progression that could change the post-apocalyptic world as he knows it.

Their worlds intersect when the Jimmies decide to find “Old Nick.”

With intriguing storylines developing for both groups, the pacing was near perfect. I couldn’t wait to see how each storyline would unfold and how it would ultimately affect the other timeline. I was locked in for the entire 109 minutes.

Thank you to the creators for splitting these into two separate films instead of one massive event!

No offense to Boyle, because I absolutely respect the big swings he made in the first installment, but they did not work for me at all. DaCosta’s direction and style made much more sense for this type of film, with sweeping wide shots of the quiet, desolate land contrasted by a few needle drops from Dr. Kelson’s record collection. It’s a strong representation of the nihilistic ways of the Jimmies versus the calm, warmhearted life of Kelson.

Her variation worked much better for me because it gave the characters more time to develop without the wild, whiplash-inducing camera pulling me out of the film. At the core of the 28 Days Later franchise, it’s really a message about humanity, not the zombies per se. Moral decay, isolation, and connection are explored, and how they affect people are shown, as hordes of crazy zombies roam the world.

Ralph Fiennes delivers another stellar performance as Dr. Kelson, as he nails every role he takes on, and this is no exception. His pure heart and good intentions are on full display in this role, and you can’t help but love and root for him to survive. Plus, his character has excellent taste in music, as you will see.

Jack O’Connell delivers an incredible performance as Jimmy Crystal, a character who horror fans will recognize as Remmick from the highly acclaimed 2025 horror film Sinners. He excels at portraying vicious, terrifying characters, infusing each role with an unmatched sense of dread. His intense presence made me hold my breath at times, eagerly wondering what his character would do next.

O’Connell is quickly becoming a hot commodity in the horror genre!

The Bone Temple was filmed a few weeks after the first installment, utilizing many of the same sets and, of course, the temple itself. While the visuals remained consistent, cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, who has frequently collaborated with DaCosta, worked on this installment as well. I prefer his filming style to the first, similar to my preference for the editing. The color palette was visually pleasing, with rich, earthy tones that enhanced the mood. The practical effects were both gruesome and lifelike, featuring detailed prosthetics and realistic gore, which added to the grim and foreboding atmosphere of the scene.

As far as scares go, I jumped out of my skin (no pun intended, you’ll see) a few times. I wasn’t ready for any jump scares, but there were a few I didn’t see coming, which cost me a few years of my life. And the gore! Oh my, the gore. There is some body horror I’m still thinking about. Saw-level torture.

If you weren’t a fan of 28 Years Later, I highly recommend seeing The Bone Temple in theaters. It is absolutely worth it, and if nothing else, see it for the epic ending and the cliffhanger that sets the stage for the third installment. I am still giddy and smiling about it since leaving the theater last night.

The audience reactions were so much fun, and it is best to see this with a crowd. There was a decent amount of humor I wasn’t expecting, and it worked incredibly well!

Overall, I rate 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 4.5 out of 5 stars. Yes, folks, that is a high rating for a horror movie released in January! It is almost unheard of.

The Bone Temple has a very different vibe from its predecessors, especially 28 Days Later. The 2002 movie was grisly, grimy, and bleak, depicting a world overrun by infection and despair. In contrast, these recent installments are really bonkers, unhinged, and at times, kitschy, featuring over-the-top visuals and eccentric characters that push the boundaries of believability.

I’ve found it hard to accept this evolution at times, but if you really sit and think about it, it relates to the film's narrative, highlighting a shift from raw horror to a more stylized, chaotic tone.

As you will find out, evolution can and will happen, even in a post-apocalyptic Britain.

You can see 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple in theaters starting January 16th.