Movie Review: 28 Years Later – The Bone Temple

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a sequel to 28 Years Later, which largely feels like a part two. This sequel is directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman) who steps in for Danny Boyle without much fuss – injecting raw energy to keep the torch burning bright. The previous installation sets up a number of characters and follows the story of Spike and his family as he ventures onto the mainland in the hope of finding a doctor for his ailing mother. The main thrust of that story was focused on the family of three with some curious introductions which are expanded on in the sequel.

Jimmy, Dr Kelson and Samson become much more prominent in The Bone Temple which largely centres on their gathering at this sacred space under the control of Dr Kelson. The film starts with Spike’s integration into the unhinged Jimmy gang made up of young castaways who each find themselves tested, challenged and brainwashed as they become initiated and part of the killing spree. A few shades of A Clockwork Orange, each dons a blonde wig and is inextricably connected to the playful Teletubbies children’s show. The scarification and darkness pervades in this strange mix, which harks back to a series of traumatic events that sent Jimmy into such dark places.

The sequel doesn’t offer these breadcrumbs back to the previous film, throwing you in the deep end if you missed that installation. Still, it does enough to compel as Spike’s essentially forced to join the gang, roaming across the countryside and eliminating survivors, as their evil mission is guided by their own mock religion, with “Sir Lord” Jimmy Crystal poised to be their antichrist. Meanwhile Dr Kelson carries on his mission, offering greater insights and nuance to his attempts to memorialise the dead as well as tame some of the undead, most notably an Alpha by the name of Samson who becomes a pet project.

Orbiting around these three factions, the film has a dark undercurrent and a wicked sense of humour stemming from its playful attitude which contrasts starkly against the ultra-violence and sadistic nature of their need to ingratiate themselves in homesteads or situations before things inevitably lead to death. Testing alliances and getting a clearer understanding of the madness, the film builds to and culminates with the bone temple, an ossuary set against the lush forests and countryside.

This is a stylish, intense and twisted entry into the 28 Days Later saga which is compelled by outlandish characters. Jack O’Connell, Ralph Fiennes, Chi Lewis-Parry and Alfie Williams deliver solid performances that raise the bar in this wild misadventure. O’Connell is almost unrecognisable in his Jimmy tracksuit and princess styling. Fiennes always delivers and honours a solid casting decision as the enigmatic Dr Kelson, Lewis-Parry is a hulking mass of contradictions while Alfie Williams is the glue that binds.

“I prefer ossuary. Bone temple is too on-the-nose.”

The lush bone temple and seemingly mad curator give the film an Apocalypse Now undertone while the insanity of the Jimmy’s gang mission finds young Spike doing everything he must in order to survive whilst trying to preserve his soul. A tale of loyalty divided, moral conscience and the lawlessness of the post-apocalyptic world they find themselves in, The Bone Temple is a fascinating action-horror adventure while it is something of a departure from the original thrust of the 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later films.

The countryside is still beset by the undead and the film simply finds greater focus on some of the characters and survivors that walk among them. A suspenseful film with a number of tense encounters and gory standoffs – it’s not for sensitive viewers.

Having a soundtrack that includes Duran Duran and Iron Maiden on vinyl, there’s a playful jaunt beneath all of the twisted and violent acts. Alex Garland’s imaginative script creates a number of iconic characters and weaves together a bizarre story with a flexible genre where anything and everything is possible. While it does have a little wobble in the dying stages as a performance leans almost tragically into the realm of comedy, the overall tone is just wild and wacky enough to accommodate this side quest.

A film that is unapologetically itself this bold entry actually improves its predecessor giving the much needed context and filling in the gaps which made 28 Years Later, seem a bit scattered with its bizarre and open-ended conclusion. It will be interesting to see what they make of the third and final film in the trilogy having reignited a world that may be more relevant and timely than ever.

The bottom line: Unhinged