28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) - Jarring Opposites

I was quite a fan of 28 Years Later. A fascinating direction for the film series that feels unique and refreshing in a deluge of zombie movies and post apocalypses. On my youtube channel I have reviewed the first two films in the series, and I have decided on holding off on making a video of the 28 Years Later films once all three are out.

However, having watched the second entry in theatres, I wanted to write up a quick review of it in isolation. I think it is a fascinating movie in a lot of ways, and my opinion wavers consistently. I can’t quite decide whether I like it or not. It could just as easily rise in my estimation in the future as it could quickly plummet. 

Namely this internal conflict resembles the two halves of the film. One part of it concerns the doctor character played by the impeccable Ralph Fiennes. He has mostly concluded the project from which the movie derives it’s name. 

The odd passive relationship he has developed with the terrifying alpha Samson in the first film is now developed. He begins to rely on the beast, as once pumped full of morphine he becomes quite the gentle giant. A fascinating bond develops as we silently learn more about this character and the nature of the infection. 

I think it could do with some more fleshing out before I call it truly excellent. I call it half of the film but I don’t believe the actual run time aligns with that statement, which is a bit of a shame. 

But regardless it offers a quiet beauty that is gleefully and deliberately anachronistic with the setting's grim darkness. It is confident, delicate and interesting to watch unfurl.

But the majority of the movie instead continues the odd plot line the first leaves on. A small satanic cult all mimicking the likeness of British celebrity Jimmy Savile. In theory this sounds like a delightfully silly concept, especially when they begin constantly quoting telatubbies. 

However the humor runs dry very quickly, and instead their scenes are just a needlessly boring gore fest. We do not learn anything new about them throughout it. They perform gorrish acts on innocence which they dub “Charity” and worship satan. It does not develop further until the very end of the film.

I found Spikes passivity odd. Of course he is a child, but that feels more like an excuse than proper justification. Despite his skill with the bow and arrow and the incredible number of opportunities to slay the cults' hilariously evil leader, he spends the entire film in tears and paralysis. It is not an engaging story to follow, at all. The movie does not explore his feelings or journey at all, remaining stagnant all the way through.

Once more, I am choosing to ignore the films status as the middle of a trilogy. That offers a curiously unique lens that I wish to explore in more depth later. So as it stands, this largely summarises my complicated issues with either side.

However something that I can unabashedly treasure is the way the two of them collide.

Sparring the story justifications which I have no reason to divulge every detail of, the climax of the film is an incredible indulgence.

Ralph Fiennes' character has to convince the party that he is the dark lord himself, Satan. 

Watching his carefully crafted show is an exhilaration that has no equal in any of the series. The music, the visuals, the way it dazzles and entrances even the viewer into a demonic ritual of incredible grandeur. I loved every second of it. I think it might be the biggest contributor to the higher review scores I have seen. 

To quote Robert Mckee in Adaptation (2002) “Wow them in the end and you’ve got a hit.” I am not adverse to a film that favours style over substance, but I don’t believe this case is quite so simple.

The substance can easily be found within the doctor's plot, and the Jimmy’s have little style nor substance for a majority of the film's length. 

Thus I am conflicted. While I am more positive than not, I am curious how that will change by the time the story concludes and I truly dig deep into it. Until then, I still like 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. I think it is the sort of thing that should be in theatres these days, regardless of my misgivings. 

3/5

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