Moviegoers in the United States have been spotted dressing as Jimmy Savile to attend screenings of the new horror film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, leaving British audiences baffled and horrified. The film, released this month, features a murderous cult known as 'the Jimmies' who idolise a character named Sir Jimmy Crystal, played by Jack O'Connell, whose appearance and mannerisms are unmistakably inspired by the disgraced entertainer.
Director Danny Boyle and O'Connell have confirmed that Sir Jimmy Crystal was designed as a 'Savile-inspired figure', drawing on the late TV presenter's entire pop-cultural footprint. However, while UK viewers immediately recognise the sinister parallels, many American fans appear unaware of Savile's history as a prolific sex offender, whose crimes were only exposed after his death in 2011.
Social media has been flooded with clips and photos of US and Canadian fans turning up to screenings in tracksuits, gold chains, cigars, and blonde wigs, mimicking the 'Jimmy Gang' from the film. British commentators have expressed shock at the glamourisation of a figure who abused hundreds of children over more than five decades, exploiting his fame and access to positions of trust.
The film is set in 2002, before Savile's crimes came to light, and the cult's idolisation of the character is meant to unsettle audiences who know the truth. However, this irony has been lost on some international viewers, who argue that Savile was never a household name in North America. The controversy highlights a cultural divide, with many Brits hoping the fans soon realise the disturbing inspiration behind their costumes.
