Unwitting US Cinemagoers Embrace Jimmy Savile Style for New Horror Film
In a surprising cultural twist, some American film enthusiasts are dressing up as the disgraced British entertainer Jimmy Savile to attend screenings of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the latest instalment in the popular zombie horror franchise released this month. This trend, largely driven by social media platforms like TikTok, sees fans adopting the distinctive look of a character inspired by Savile, seemingly oblivious to the horrific real-life crimes associated with the figure.
The Savile-Inspired Character in 28 Years Later
The film features a murderous cult known as "the Jimmies," who stalk a post-apocalyptic Britain. Led by Sir Jimmy Crystal, portrayed by Jack O'Connell, the sect is instantly recognisable for their cheap tracksuits, bleached blonde wigs, and specific mannerisms. For UK audiences, this character is unmistakably reminiscent of Jimmy Savile, whose decades-long history of sexual abuse, targeting hundreds of victims including children, was only fully revealed after his death. The film's producer, Danny Boyle, and O'Connell have explicitly stated that Sir Jimmy Crystal was designed as a Savile-inspired figure, intended to unsettle viewers by drawing on the entertainer's pop-cultural footprint and the dangers of weaponised nostalgia.
Cultural Disconnect Across the Atlantic
In the United States and Canada, however, the reference appears to be lost on many franchise fans. Clips, photos, and dedicated fan accounts of the Jimmies are circulating online, showcasing viewers turning up to screenings dressed in tracksuits, gold chains, cigars, and the signature white bob wig. Some videos even feature fans imagining dance moves for the characters or enthusiastically idolising Sir Jimmy Crystal as a standalone figure, seemingly unaware of the real-life scandal that inspired the portrayal. This disconnect highlights a broader cultural gap, as Savile was never a household name in North America, and his infamy has not widely crossed the Atlantic.
Reactions from Cast and Critics
Jack O'Connell has expressed support for fans enjoying the costume, humorously noting in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that "it's a great feeling to be in that attire." Meanwhile, Robert Rhodes, who plays Jimmy Jimmy in the film, admitted to realising the resemblance only during his costume fitting, questioning if he was dressed as Jimmy Savile. British audiences have been quick to criticise the outfits, emphasising the disturbing nature of reducing a figure like Savile to a mere fashion statement or meme, stripped of the context that once made him truly monstrous.
Broader Implications and Historical Context
This incident is not the first time Americans have misunderstood Savile's legacy. For example, Netflix's Tiger King star Carole Baskin once fell victim to a prank involving a birthday greeting for Savile, later insisting she had no idea who he was. The Guardian's film critic, Peter Bradshaw, praised 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple for its human conflict, but the real horror may lie in how quickly such infamous figures can be reduced to superficial imagery. Given Savile's relative obscurity outside the UK, it was perhaps inevitable that some viewers would latch onto the look without grasping its origins, though British audiences hope this awareness spreads sooner rather than later.
