It’s not usually {that a} return to a franchise after years of no exercise leads to an precise good film, however 2025’s 28 Years Later proved profitable by reuniting director Danny Boyle and author Alex Garland, who made the unique 28 Days Later. One other sequel, The Bone Temple, was filmed back-to-back with final 12 months’s movie, with Nia DaCosta taking up for Boyle within the directing chair.
The film picks up quickly after the top of the primary movie, with the younger Spike (Alfie Williams) now an unwilling member of a bunch known as the Jimmies, which is led by a person who calls himself Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). Not like the principle group within the first movie, which was simply trying to survive the zombie apocalypse, the Jimmies are a bloodthirsty bunch who gleefully assault any zombies they discover and brutalize different survivors they arrive throughout.
The story additionally returns to Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), whose solitary time at his self-built bone temple is interrupted by a large zombie he has dubbed Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). In opposition to the percentages – and with the assistance of some morphine – Kelson is ready to bond with Samson, giving Kelson some unusual however welcome companionship. However with the Jimmies lurking close by, any peace he’s discovered might quickly be shattered.
DaCosta, working from a script by Garland, ably steps into Boyle’s sneakers, placing the emphasis on the story moderately than making an attempt for many stylistic prospers. That’s to not say that she doesn’t do nice work, nevertheless. The creepiness and sadistic nature of the Jimmies comes by means of loud and clear underneath her path, and he or she brings out the campy comedy that comes from the surprising pairing of Kelson and Samson.
Like the primary 28 Years Later, the story is considerably of a sluggish burn. The movie doesn’t have many plot developments over its 109 minutes, and so DaCosta should get by on temper moderately than motion for essentially the most half. However when issues do get ramped up, they’ll get very uncomfortable because the movie doesn’t shrink back from excessive gore. The harm inflicted by Samson and different zombies is one factor, however when it’s sentient people going savage, it turns into much more tough to take a look at the display.
The juxtaposition between the chaos of the Jimmies and the quiet existence of Dr. Kelson works effectively for the movie. Their separation for the majority of the story offers them loads of time to have the characters come into their very own. Sir Jimmy Crystal is the ringleader, however Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman) will get her personal showcase. Samson was already a (actually) huge presence from the primary movie, however this movie offers him a level of humanity that provides the story extra depth.
O’Connell made an enormous impression because the lead vampire in Sinners, and he’s simply as fascinating/intimidating right here. Fiennes performs a personality the place being over-the-top is the pure response, and but he retains Kelson grounded in plenty of ways in which make him far more than one-note. Lewis-Parry was doubtless forged for his physique, however he brings out extra from a zombie than you’d ever anticipate. Williams fades into the background a bit after his starring function within the first movie, however he’s nonetheless sturdy.
Releasing The Bone Temple in January was not an important signal, given the month’s fame as a dumping floor for dangerous motion pictures, however it truly proves to be an important alternative. With most different releases being Oscar hopefuls or actually terrible movies, it stands out for being one other compelling entry for the franchise, one that can make anticipation excessive for each time the third movie within the 28 Years Later collection comes out.
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opens in theaters on January 16.
