Seven months later we are getting a sequel to the long-awaited follow-up to the 28 Days/Weeks Later franchise. I’m still upset we never got the months movie we deserved.
28 Years Later arrived in cinemas last year with a lot of fanfare, but left most viewers scratching their heads in confusion. The movie still delivered the frenetic zombie-filled action of the other movies, but also deviated wildy into a movie about the peace of accepting death, and it still had time to tease a sequel by introducing a tracksuit Teletubby/Power Ranger group of thugs.
With The Bone Temple already having been filmed, I was so interested to see what the movie would be without having the the chance to cater to audience feedback. To note, they are waiting on the success of The Bone Temple to see if making a third part is justified.
The Bone Temple follows Spike (Alfie Williams), the young survivor of the first part. He has no choice but to be part of the the torture-happy gang of the Jimmys. This group is lead by the primary Jimmy (Jack O’Connell) and he’s the last person you’d want to meet in the wild.
Meanwhile, the eccentric Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) is studying the giant zombie, Samson, and trying to find any semblance of humanity still within him.
I was so surprised by how the last movie ended, but thankfully it paid off entirely. Nia DaCosta has taken over for Danny Boyle, but is still working with franchise writer Alex Garland, and the reins are in great hands. Whereas the last movie felt like 2 1/2 distinct movies thrown together, Bone Temple takes those branches and weaves them together perfectly.
Zombie genre movie fans may be put off, as this sequel delves far from that horror experience. Outside of the alpha Samson, zombies are an afterthought. The horror within the characters comes from the themes of survival and timing. Death is seemingly around every corner or even if you make the wrong move within an unpredictable group. And whether the movie follows Spike or Ian, there would be stakes to rushing an escape.
The plot about Jimmy and the Fingers (his gang) is difficult to watch. They prey on surviving families in their quest to follow the sadistic revelations of Jimmy. He is easily one of the best villains in recent memory because he is so despicable and intimidating. Yet, beyond scenes of misery, there is humor on the other side. I couldn’t help but be caught off guard by the comedy that the movie breaks the tension with.
The cast is giving it their all and there’s not a weak one here. Strangely, this may now be one of my favorite Fiennes performances because he gets so much to do. His range is second-to-none. Alfie Williams continues to impress me in a role that requires plenty of him.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple surprised me by evolving the zombie genre, even with tropes we’ve all seen before, and made it all captivating. Sorry to say, that there is still way too much zombie dudity for anyone’s sake. Also, this is no way stands alone as a movie. It requires that you watch the previous movie at the very least. Yet, the script, pacing, and acting is great and left me so excited to see how they continue the series. B+
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