The zombie horror franchise 28 Years Later has achieved the near-impossible with its latest instalment. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is not merely a worthy sequel; it stands as the most exhilarating and dramatically potent chapter in the entire series, a remarkable feat for a fourth film.
A Shift in Focus: Humans Take Centre Stage
Directed by Nia DaCosta, who takes over from original creator Danny Boyle, the film succeeds for a compelling reason: it largely sidelines the zombies. Instead, the narrative thrust comes from a terrifying conflict between sentient human beings. The film picks up immediately after the events of 28 Years Later, following young Spike (Alfie Williams) as he ventures from the safety of Holy Island into the infected mainland, drawn by rumours of a mysterious doctor.
That doctor is played by a phenomenal Ralph Fiennes as Dr Ian Kelson, a lone beacon of decency building a macabre monument to the dead—the Bone Temple itself. Fiennes, with weird orange skin from iodine treatment, brings an almost Christlike gentleness to the role. His performance reaches an unforgettable peak in a bizarre, electrifying dance to Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast, a moment that alone redefines his extensive career.
The Real Monsters: A Clockwork Orange-Inspired Gang
The primary threat emerges not from the infected, but from a murderous, ultra-violent gang of survivors who style themselves after a grotesque icon. Led by the deranged Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, played with terrifying charisma by Jack O'Connell, this group sports tracksuits and blond wigs modelled on the disgraced TV personality Jimmy Savile. Their psychopathic theology and brutal way of life make them far more cinematic and frightening than any shambling zombie.
When this gang crosses paths with Spike and later with Dr Kelson, the stage is set for a gripping intergenerational face-off. The film crackles with the energy of this human conflict, where every interaction carries real jeopardy. Even the film's most significant zombie, a giant named Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), becomes compelling through his unexpected connection with the pacifist Dr Kelson and his stash of pharmaceuticals.
A Gruesome, Energised Triumph
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a forthright, gruesome, and brilliantly energised piece of horror cinema. By minimising the "always slightly dull business of zombieism," as the review notes, the film leverages superb performances from Fiennes and O'Connell to explore themes of power, belief, and the remnants of civilisation. It proves that in a post-apocalyptic landscape, the most terrifying monsters are often the ones who remember how to be human.
The film releases in cinemas on 16 January in the UK and US, following a 15 January debut in Australia. For fans of the franchise and horror aficionados seeking a fresh, character-driven shock to the system, this fourquel is an unmissable, blood-curdling triumph.
