Some US film fans are attending screenings of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple dressed as Jimmy Savile, the disgraced British entertainer whose history of sexual abuse was revealed after his death. The film features a murderous cult called “the Jimmies” led by Sir Jimmy Crystal, a character inspired by Savile.
Producer Danny Boyle has confirmed the character draws on Savile’s pop-cultural footprint, while actor Jack O’Connell described it as a warning about weaponised nostalgia. However, many US cinema-goers appear unaware of Savile’s real-life crimes, treating the costume as a fun homage.
Social media clips show fans in tracksuits, blonde wigs, gold chains and cigars, mimicking the cult’s mannerisms. Some have created dance routines and fan accounts, apparently missing the intended irony that the audience is meant to be unsettled by the imagery.
O’Connell himself expressed support for the costumes, telling Entertainment Weekly: “It’s a great feeling to be in that attire.” Britons have criticised the outfits, but some US fans argue Savile is not a household name in their country. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw noted the film’s real horror may be how figures like Savile can be reduced to a meme within a generation.
