In a stunning reversal of franchise fortunes, the fourth instalment of the 28 Days Later series has emerged as its most compelling chapter. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple delivers a gruesome, energised, and phenomenally acted horror-thriller that redefines the saga.
A Shift in the Horror Hierarchy
It is exceptionally rare for a fourquel to stand as the best film in a series, yet that is the undeniable achievement of this latest entry. Directed by Nia DaCosta, who takes over from original creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, the film follows immediately on from the events of 28 Years Later. The narrative energy and dramatic heft here are palpable, largely thanks to Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell, who bring a pure, death-metal intensity to the screen.
One sequence alone cements Fiennes' performance as legendary: a dance to Iron Maiden's 'The Number of the Beast'. This moment is being hailed as one of the most extraordinary of his career, so powerful that audiences have been left craving an official music video featuring his freaky, unforgettable performance. It's a display that makes even his Voldemort seem tame.
Human Conflict Trumps the Undead
The film's brilliance stems from an intriguing creative choice: the zombies are almost irrelevant. The Bone Temple wisely de-emphasises the "always slightly dull business of zombieism," as the review notes, and instead focuses on the savage conflict between sentient human beings. The real threat comes from a murderous, Clockwork Orange-inspired gang of non-infected people, who roam the wasteland unafraid of the undead.
This gang, led by the bizarre Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), is a horrifying spectacle. Their tracksuits and blond wigs are modelled on the disgraced TV personality Jimmy Savile, creating a deeply unsettling aesthetic. They represent a new, ultraviolent social order, with Sir Lord Jimmy espousing a psychopathic theology to control his followers. Their path crosses with Spike (Alfie Williams), the young protagonist from the previous film, who witnesses their brutality firsthand.
The Heart of the Bone Temple
At the story's core is Dr Ian Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes. Rumoured to be a lone standard-bearer of decency, Kelson has created an ossuary-monument to fallen humanity—the Bone Temple itself. His strange orange skin, a result of iodine self-treatment, and unusual demeanour are fatally misunderstood by the marauding Jimmies. Kelson's true mission involves grappling with an alpha zombie he calls "Samson" (Chi Lewis-Parry), exploring unsuspected depths through almost Christlike gentleness and a stockpile of pharmaceuticals.
This dynamic creates a thrilling, intergenerational face-off between the superb Fiennes and O'Connell. The film is forthright, energised, and exceedingly gruesome, deriving its power from real human jeopardy and conflict, proving that non-zombies are ultimately more cinematic.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is scheduled for release on 15 January in Australia, and 16 January in the UK and US. This fourquel is not just a continuation but a revitalisation, setting a new, blood-curdling standard for the entire franchise.
