Nia DaCosta's survival horror film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is a brutally violent experience that is emphatically not for the faint of heart. Yet, for those with the stomach for it, the movie offers a masterclass in bold, brilliant storytelling that expands the acclaimed post-apocalyptic series.
A Savage Return to a Ravaged World
This latest instalment acts as a direct sequel to Danny Boyle's 2025 film 28 Years Later, which itself revived the story begun in 2002's 28 Days Later and continued in 2007's 28 Weeks Later. Once again, the visionary pen of Alex Garland is behind the screenplay, further developing the nightmarish landscape he originally conceived, a world famously inspired by John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids.
Garland's vision proves as powerfully vivid as Wyndham's, though significantly more savage. However, the relentless grimness is expertly leavened by a mordant wit, providing several genuine laugh-out-loud moments amidst the carnage.
Monstrous Villains and Desperate Heroes
The film introduces a truly deranged antagonist in Sir Jimmy Crystal, played with terrifying relish by Jack O'Connell. Adorned with jewellery and clad in velour, this rotten-toothed cult leader, who proclaims himself the son of Satan, is a clear and audacious skewering of the monstrous legacy of the late Jimmy Savile. He leads his demonic followers—all forced to wear blond wigs and answer to 'Jimmy'—on a bloody rampage across the countryside.
In a harrowing early sequence, he forcibly recruits a reluctant young man, Spike (Alfie Williams), into his murderous fold. Meanwhile, on a parallel path, the honourable but eccentric Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) is working at the macabre 'bone temple', constructed from human remains. There, he bonds with a grunting giant named Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) and desperately seeks a cure for the pandemic that has decimated the world.
A Collision Course of Narratives
Director Nia DaCosta deftly switches between these two narratives, building tension until their inevitable and electrifying collision. The catalyst comes when one of Sir Jimmy's more empathetic followers, played by the versatile Erin Kellyman, spies Dr. Kelson from a distance. Mistaking him for the devil himself, she reports back to her leader.
Sir Jimmy seizes the opportunity to tighten his grip on his cult, resulting in a series of loyalty tests described as 'The Traitors on acid'—twisted trials beyond even the imagination of presenter Claudia Winkleman. The film is packed with mischievous pop-cultural nods, from a soundtrack featuring Duran Duran to references spanning Teletubbies and Spinal Tap.
Beneath the visceral horror, the film is a sharply intelligent satire, taking aim at religious fundamentalism and the perils of blind political idolatry. The cast is superb throughout, with 15-year-old Alfie Williams delivering a standout performance that more than holds its own against heavyweights Fiennes and O'Connell. The film is further enhanced by a brief but impactful return of Cillian Murphy, reprising his original role from 24 years ago.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is in cinemas now. It is a challenging, gruesome, but ultimately rewarding piece of filmmaking that sets the stage for the next sequel, which will see Danny Boyle return to the director's chair.
Also Streaming: The Rip
On the streaming front, Netflix offers The Rip, a formulaic but watchable thriller set in Miami. Directed by Joe Carnahan, it leans heavily on the established buddy chemistry of its stars, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Damon plays Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Affleck is Sergeant JD Byrne, two veteran detectives who discover a huge cache of cartel money during a raid. While Carnahan attempts to give them emotional depth—one grieves a son, the other a murdered partner—they remain essentially Damon and Affleck playing to type. A strong supporting cast, including Kyle Chandler and Golden Globe winner Teyana Taylor, adds some gloss to the predictable proceedings. The Rip is available to stream on Netflix now.
