28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE REVIEW: Has Alex Garland Done it Again?

Fans of the 28 Years Later franchise know that each film is vastly different from the previous, and as 28 Years Later showed us, Alex Garland is ready to take this saga to some intriguing and interesting places. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is no different as Alex Garland returns for the next installment that picks up where the previous left off. This franchise is full of allegories, lessons, insane camera work, and sound design as they hold nothing back in terms of pushing the genre forward. This time, Nia DaCosta is behind the camera directing, and Ralph Fiennes returns as Doctor Ian Kelson alongside a crew of Jimmy’s all led by Jack O’Connell.

SPOILERS AHEAD

28 years ago, there was an outbreak causing those who became infected to turn into a fit of rage, tearing apart anything and anyone they came across. In that time, they have evolved and mutated, leading to Alphas who are near impossible to bring down amongst the undying horde. The film picks up with Spike (Alfie Williams), who was rescued by the gang of track-suit-wearing Jimmy’s, who, if you close your eyes, almost make you feel as though you are in A Clockwork Orange. To join them, Spike must kill or be killed, which he does in an accidental and yet violent manner.

What makes this film different is that the focus is not on Spike, who we would have expected to be the main focus, as he was in the last film. Instead, the focus is ripe with biblical references, as Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) believes himself to be the son of Satan. The other plot point is that Dr. Kelson has found a breakthrough in curing the virus, and he and Sampson become bonded. Every time the cult of Jimmy’s is on screen, there are gruesome sequences of violence as they offer “charity” to Satan, whether it be skinning their victims or worse.

DaCosta works pure magic in this film as she knows how to hold the gore and violence to the point the audience begins to feel squemish and instills fear when placing the characters in beautiful shots. Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes is the star of this film without question. His moments with Samson are full of beauty and tension. He begins by drugging him and recognizes that he may actually have consciousness. Fiennes isn’t afraid to fully dive into the weird as he pants himself and dances into a fiery night to Iron Maiden.

The use of sound continues to strike gold as well, whether it is the musical numbers, the heavy footsteps of our Alpha, or the background noise. The big question at the heart of it all is whether or not humanity can be saved. Fiennes and O’Connell share an emotional conversation amongst the chaos and differing ideologies that bring humanity back into the forefront of lawlessness. As this is the middle film of Garland’s planned trilogy, there is quite the shock in the final minutes of this film that will have fans screaming for the finale immediately.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is wrought with beautiful imagery and sound as the script fills us with questions as to whether humanity is worth saving or can be saved. There are tense moments throughout as well as moments of bliss. Alex and Nia push the genre forward, making this film incredible.

Overall Grade 5/5 Jimmy’s

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is in theaters now!

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