28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) Film Review: Bold, bleak and bloody bonkers

Taking place soon after the final events of 28 Years Later (2025), young Spike (Alfie Williams) is inducted into Jimmy Crystal's (Jack O'Connell) cruel and deranged cult-like gang, whilst Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes world-altering discoveries in his scientific endeavours to analyse the cause and cure for the infected.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) was shot back-to-back with its predecessor and serves as the fourth instalment in the 28 Days Later film series, forming the middle chapter of this current trilogy.

Writer Alex Garland returns to pen the screenplay, with Nia DaCosta (writer for Candyman, 2021 and The Marvels, 2023) taking over from Danny Boyle as director. Boyle served as a producer for the sequel.

Although guided by a different director, the film largely maintains the bleak, gritty nature of the first instalment, daring to go even more extreme with its graphic violence and gory details. This is a dark, sickening and gruesome horror feature through and through, with plenty of gnarly infected rampages and a particularly nasty torture sequence taking place in a barn, which may cause many viewers to wince and look away.

Due to the direct continuation from Spike's initial encounter with the 'Jimmys' in the previous film, it is well worth refreshing one's memory of these events before viewing the sequel, as the movie wastes no time in jumping straight back into the action. The disturbing, morbid tone is very quickly established, as Spike is forced to fight one of the Jimmys in a sadistic ritual to ensure his own survival.

Much of the real horror derives from the unsettling implications of a child like Spike being exposed to the most disgusting acts of violence a human can commit on another, further continuing the harsh coming-of-age aspect from its predecessor.

Spike is forced to grow up in such a dangerous, hostile environment quickly, and his desperation to escape the clutches of the terrifying cult, which constantly evokes nauseating dread as you wonder what their next move will be.

The film takes a split-screen approach to its story with Spike and the Jimmys and Dr Kelson's lone investigations eventually corresponding in the climax. Kelson's segments set a slower, more reflective and meditative pace as the focus largely shifts away from Spike and the doctor continues to have interesting encounters with the large, imposing alpha infected, who he affectionately names Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry).

The best parts of the movie involve this complex relationship and the possibility of Samson reconnecting with his long-forgotten humanity, leading to many effectively atmospheric sequences rich in substantial emotional depth. The concept of an infected person regaining memories is by no means a new idea for the zombie genre; however, the thematic potential certainly makes for the most compelling scenes of the movie.

The film sports a fantastic, immersive sound design with well-edited sequences as Samson begins to recall the past sounds of civilisation as he is drawn to the abandoned passenger train, which was included in the previous movie. The nostalgic call backs to an ice cream van's whimsical jingle, to children laughing, to public chatter and train noises, all create a surreal, dreamlike quality which is reinforced by elusive transitional set pieces.

Chi Lewis-Parry has such a commanding, intimidating presence, which makes for genuinely terrifying scares early on, which DaCosta fully takes advantage of his domineering appearance through shaky close-ups of his blood red eyes and heavy bulking form. This contrasts with his sedated, thoughtful side, which is also brilliantly handled by Lewis-Parry.

The film is largely carried by its terrific leading performances from the wonderful Ralph Fiennes and charismatic Jack O'Connell. Much of the movie's dark comedy comes from these two wildly different characters interacting for the first time, providing another memorable highlight of the film.

Dr Kelson is made endearingly likeable by Fiennes, as he passionately engages in his scientific endeavours whilst casually singing a plethora of Duran Duran tunes. A final spectacular set piece involving a dolled-up Kelson putting on a killer performance to Iron Maiden's 'The Number of the Beast' is shamelessly pure cinema and exhibits a riot of wild entertainment.

O'Connell is able to match this manic energy by giving one of the most chilling performances of the year, playing a completely irredeemable baddie to be avoided at all costs. His satanic devotion and lack of human conscience give way to harrowing, torturous acts which are definitely not for the faint of heart. For a villain this detestable, any form of justice against him is greatly satisfying.

Overall, 28 Years Later. The Bone Temple is a worthy sequel to its predecessor by sufficiently building on its pre-established themes and upping the gore and horror. Nia DaCosta proves to be a solid director of the genre by truly getting the most out of bloody set pieces.

Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell are both excellent in their respective roles, and despite not getting much of a focus here, Alfie Williams still continues to impress with his natural acting talent.

With exciting foundations formed for the trilogy's conclusion, the 28 Days Later franchise is proving to be a popular hit with horror fans.

Check out the trailer for The Bone Temple (2026) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!