2026 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

• Director: Nia DaCosta
• Writers: Alex Garland
• Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry
• Runtime: 109 Minutes
• YouTube Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43DaGg1OilE

Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone

This one is an immediate sequel to 28 Years Later. Little Spike joins the Jimmys, head Jimmy continues his loony leadership, and the doctor continues his work with his Bone Temple project and befriending Sampson. It’s a weird vision of a late-stage apocalypse. We both enjoyed it a lot and thought it was better than the previous movie.

Spoilery Synopsis

We open on the Jimmys, in a long-abandoned water park, along with Spike from the previous film. One of the Jimmys is no more after that. Spike becomes Jimmy too. Credits roll.

At the bone temple, we see a hunter run into Samsom and his infected crew. The hunter dies excessively, and Samson eats his brains. Not far away, Dr. Kelson cuts up the pregnant woman from the previous film. On the way to dispose of the body, he runs into Samson and has to tranquilize him. Kelson then removes the arrows from the giant zombie; after, he goes down into his bunker and plays some music.

The next morning, Kelson encounters Samson again, and this time, the big guy doesn’t charge at him. Kelson bargains with the monster. He tranquilizes the big man again, which is what Samson seems to want. Kelsen wants to be friends with Samson, or at least train him. Kelsen takes some of the drugs himself and passes out; when he awakens, Samson is gone and didn’t kill him in his sleep. They start regularly getting stoned together. A weird romance is born?!

Three new characters, Cathy, Jonno, and Tom, walk through the woods. Jonno draws the wrong kind of attention and becomes infected. Tom and Cathy return home to George’s place and find that the Jimmys have taken over. It’s tense as they all introduce themselves and then kill the homeowners.

The Jimmys soon come across the bone temple and see Kelsen and Samson dancing. Jimmy Crystal, the leader of the gang, talks about his “divine right” to rule. He’s maybe just a little insane.

At the temple, Kelsen admits to Samson that he’s running out of morphine, and that’s going to be a problem really soon. He wants to euthanize Samson, but he’d really like the big man’s consent. Samson finally speaks, saying “Moon.”

Back at the farmhouse, Jimmy orders Tom to fight Jimmima. Cathy, who escaped, helps Tom. Things go badly from there when a propane tank ignites thanks to Tom. Jimmy sends Spike to kill Cathy, but he wants to go with her instead. She punches him and runs off.

The Jimmys decide to pay a visit to Kelsen, whom they think is the devil. Meanwhile, Samson puts on pants and learns to eat berries. The Jimmys spy on Kelsen, but Spike, who knows the doctor, doesn’t say anything about him. Samson starts having memories about being on a train.

Jimmy Crystal goes to the Bone Temple and sees all the skulls. Kelsen admits that he’s not Satan. They have a long conversation, as some of the Jimmys start to doubt their leader. Can Kelsen pretend to be Jimmy’s father, the devil? Kelsen has little choice.

Kelsen tells Samson about the encounter. He’s been working on a cure for the disease, but now he may be out of time and wants to try it on the big man. Is it all just a weird kind of psychosis? He gives Samson some pills.

The next morning, Samson is aware. He gets aboard a train car and remembers his childhood. He and his family were on the train when the infection hit. In the present, a bunch of infected people board the train and attack the big man, who fights back.

Kelsen prepares for his meeting with the Jimmys, as he “becomes” the devil.

Night falls, and the Jimmys come into the temple. It’s all lit up with Satanic imagery now, as Jimmy Crystal wanted. Kelsen does a song and dance, and it’s very convincing. The music is loud, and it attracts Samson. Kelsen gives the order to the Jimmys to follow Jimmy Crystal, but when he sees Spike and recognizes him, he changes the rules. He tells the Jimmys to crucify Jimmy Crystal. Jimmy then stabs “Satan.” Jimmy Ink, on the other hand, sticks with Spike and kills the other Jimmys.

Only Spike and Jimmy Ink are left standing. As Kelsen dies, the young people crucify Jimmy Crystal for him. As he hangs there, upside down, Samson comes into camp. He thanks Kelsen for curing him as the doctor dies.

Back in the safe land, we see Jim, the main character from the first film. He’s teaching his daughter, Sam, history. They go outside and see a flock of infected chasing Jimmy Ink and Spike, who need help. Sam asks Jim if they should help, Jim says of course, and they head off to do so.

Brian’s Commentary

This begins almost immediately after the events of the previous film. Oddly enough, it all makes sense, in a crazy way. There’s supposed to be a third one coming, so we’re in good shape here. This was much better than the previous film, which was mostly just setup.

Kevin’s Commentary

I liked the weirdness and surreal aspects of this one, with the Jimmys, the Bone Temple, the doc and Sampson getting high together. And it contains the best use of Iron Maiden music ever.

It takes its time with the strangeness and events with lulls and spikes; it’s long but was never boring. I thought it was pretty great. Better than the previous one.