Film Review: 28 Years Later Bone Temple

There have been a few times in past reviews where I start with a disclaimer. It’s usually noted that I’m biased for a director/writer (which, in this case, is the writer), but this one is new for me. For this critical exploration of 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, I will discuss elements that might be considered spoilers. I myself hate spoilers, but I feel it’s necessary for this review.

28 Years Later: Bone Temple directly follows the events of 28 Years Later. Spike (Alfie Williams) has encountered the Jimmys, led by Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), as he’s trying to make his own way in the unruly mainland. In another part of the mainland, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) is trying to continue his oath as a doctor and treat who and what he can.

It seems that in recent years, nostalgia has hit the film industry with a vengeance. Not only are they continuing the philosophy of sequels (sometimes unnecessary ones), but they have also added sequels that take place 20 years or more after the first film. This isn’t a complete negative critique of that philosophy, as I’ve enjoyed some of these new editions, but it makes me question whether we will tire of them as audiences have of sequels vs. original content. While I greatly enjoyed 28 Years Later, I’m not as thrilled about 28 Years Later: Bone Temple.

Okay, that was kind of a hard statement to make. Not only do I not revel in negative reviews, but also because the odd-numbered films (especially 28 Days Later) are deeply rooted in the favorite film vault in my heart. However, for me, this film felt out of balance. The majority of the film was spent with the Jimmys, and I longed to spend time with Kelson.

That’s not to say that Sir Jimmy didn’t serve his role well as the central villain of the film, because O’Connell has a way of making your insides bubble with discontent, but in 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, his intensity was too saturated. What made Sir Jimmy terrifying in 28 Years Later wasn’t his inclusion in the overall story; it was that his menace was lurking in the background. It’s the things that bump in the night that we can’t see that play on our fears the most.

There is one exception, though. Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman) is a character worth exploring. She’s complicated, which showcases the new world they are living in, one where you have to weigh between your morals and destruction. Granted, Kellyman is quickly becoming one of my favorite newcomers, so I’m interested in any screen time I can get with her.

Overall, though, the Jimmys were too much. The reign of terror they inflict shifted from frightening to bothersome. Not that the acts we witnessed weren’t horrific, they absolutely caused some nightmares, but when you are a witness to too much of the macabre, you lose the power of the threat. (As a side note, I must mention that due to my poor time management, the only seats available in the theater were in the front row. Being that close to the Jimmys portion might have made the screen time felt long than it actually was.)

Maybe I put too much of my anticipation behind Kelson, expecting 28 Years Later: Bone Temple to be about his evolution in this world. I desired to see how a respectable doctor went from curing the sick to building monuments out of their bones. It also didn’t hurt that Fiennes genuinely is one of the finest actors who grace the silver screen. What he was able to do with this highly complicated and conflicted role was brilliant. Kelson was one of the best parts of 28 Years Later, and I was happy we could explore his story further (even if it wasn’t as long as I would have hoped).

We do get a chance to prob into his isolated life to see how a man of education and compassion has survived throughout the events of ghoulishness that have reigned in the last 28 years. Thankfully, we can witness how he has found ways to let the dread of a daily basis wash from his person. There is relief when you realize that he has found ways to endure the chaos of his world, even if it is a lonely one. That is, until Kelson forms an intricate and interesting relationship with the Alpha in the area, Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). Speaking of Lewis-Parry, he is outstanding as Samson. To be able to portray so much emotion, and the variety of emotions and thought processes he experiences in this film, with no dialogue, is breathtaking. I hope these movies are his breakout, because I want to see more.

This is the portion of the film that is intriguing; this is the portion that I wish were expanded on. While Danny Boyle didn’t direct this (Nia Dacosta, who is accomplished in her own right, did), Alex Garland was once again the writer, and I anticipated that the social commentary of Boyle’s films would still be present. It was, it was explored with Samson, but it didn’t satisfy my thought processes enough to get me going. To be fair, I might be letting my high standards/snobbery show. For me, that is what sets these films apart from others in the genre. Maybe it stems from the commentary from the OG Night of the Living Dead (now my pretension is showing), but the variety of the animal vs. human social observations is what brought terror into the series, and into Boyle’s films as a whole. 

Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of terror in 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, it’s not for the faint of heart, but it is for fans of the series. I would go so far as to say that there are elements from this film you miss, or are more frustrated with (as my plus one found out) if you haven’t seen 28 Years Later. I have mixed feelings about this film. 

On one side, the portions with Kelson are phenomenal, and while I wanted more, I will take whatever I can get. On the other hand, the overloaded scenes with the Jimmys lost their luster, but when the two meet, there is a combustion of intensity. I guess it’s that adage, I’m not mad, just disappointed.

This is, however, one person’s subjective perspective, and it should be taken with a grain of salt. I absolutely believe it’s worth seeing, and I would love to chat with you about it later.

Written by Lisa M Mejia
Images provided by Sony Pictures