If you were on the fence about the 28 Years Later trilogy, this new installment might win you over! 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple feels more like 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later with more action, tension, and violence, while maintaining the GORGEOUS cinematography from 28 Years Later. The first movie in the trilogy felt more like an exploration of the world through a personal story, while setting the stage for the trilogy through visual exposition. This gives The Bone Temple the opportunity to dive right into the already established danger, which makes the second movie a more exciting watch. Although the movies feel different, they still feel well-connected, and the story progresses in interesting ways. Ultimately, I think horror fans should RUN to see what Nia DaCosta has cooked up, because it’s sure to scratch that infected itch.
Stunning Visuals
Firstly, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple looks amazing! There are shots that are still burned into my skull from my theater experience. The upside-down cross against the starry sky was incredible to see in IMAX. In addition to the beautiful shots, there are camera choices that help connect us to what the characters are going through. Sometimes shots become hazy or frantic to match the situation. Also, when the camera becomes frantic, it feels like the movie is holding hands with 28 Days Later, just to remind the audience of its roots.
This time, I had more fun with the story. Naturally, a boy being jumped into a Teletubby gang during a ‘zombie’ outbreak is going to have more twists and turns than a boy trying to find medical assistance for his mother during the same outbreak. The first film made me care about Spike (Alfie Williams), and the second dangled his life on a burning rope. I was clutching the seat, hoping that he was going to make the right decision to get himself to the next scene. Spike and The Jimmies journey is interwoven with Dr. Kelson’s ( Ralph Fiennes) discoveries about the infection. I was not expecting a science breakthrough in the movie. However, it tracks when considering the last installment and Kelson’s interactions with the Alpha (Chi Lewis-Parry). What we learn kicks down the door for more unexpected developments in the next film.
A Weird and Good Time!
The story stayed fresh for the entire runtime, partially due to the playful mixture of fun, violence, and tension. There are scenes where someone is getting their skin peeled off by a character who dances like a Teletubby. Jimmy Crystal’s (Jack O’Connell) is chaotically evil while maintaining the humor. The way he talks and reacts to other characters is often hilarious. However, the humor quickly devolves into violence and terror, which keeps viewers on edge.
It’s also not lost on me that it is made clear that Jimmy Crystal has daddy issues. To be fair, the outbreak likely exacerbated his issues. There’s an ICONIC scene with Kelson putting on a show, but underneath the flames, he is performing for his life. I was having a good time, but I was also concerned that one false move was going to trigger Big Jimmy to offer up a new “shirt” to his dad.
The performances supported an already interesting story. If the actors did not give their all, some of the best scenes would have fallen apart, especially because many of those scenes are extremely physical. The Alpha does not speak much, but his body does a lot of talking. I was not expecting a contained combat scene, but I’m always down for a punch and a kick. Ralph Fiennes: No Notes! Jack O’Connell is deeply in his villain bag, and I love it. Overall, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a tight package of “hell yeah, more please,” and I cannot wait for the third movie. The third act alone is worth the trek to the theater. Everyone needs to give Nia DaCosta her things!
