28 Years Later: The Bone Temple brings us a ripped AF Ralph Fiennes, evolving infected, and a menacing cult.
OG director Danny Boyle may have stepped back into a producing role, but we’re in good hands here with director Nia DaCosta, whose recent Candyman was waaaay better than we could reasonably expect from a same-title-as-the-original horror sequel (we need to stomp that trend into the topsoil, by the way). Picking up pretty much immediately after the events of the top notch 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple offers us a world where, frankly, ravening hordes of rage-infected cannibals seem to be the least of our worries.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Trailer
What’s the plot?
Let us peruse the official synopsis for useful details:
Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later – but turning that world on its head – Nia DaCosta directs 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival – the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.
Who’s in it?
- Ralph Fiennes as Dr Ian Kelson, a former GP turned Crossfit shaman.
- Jack O’Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal, leader of a cult modelled after notorious paedo Jimmy Savile.
- Alfie Williams as Spike, our plucky teen hero from the last one.
- Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink, a member of the Jimmys.
- Chi Lewis-Parry as “Samson”, a physically imposing Alpha leader of the infected.
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie, Spike’s scavenger dad.
- Emma Laird as Jimmima, a member of the Jimmys.
- Maura Bird as Jimmy Jones, a member of the Jimmys.
- Cillian Murphy as Jim! Hooray, ol’ razor cheekbones is back! Although the overall naming scheme has me a bit worried.
When’s it out?
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hits Australian cinemas on January 15, 2026.
What’s the vibe?
It is a rare pleasure to go into a movie not having the faintest idea what you’re in for, especially when the movie in question is a sequel. Sure, it looks like we’re getting into the “smart zombie” territory already mapped by the late, great George A. Romero, but I doubt that’s the only thing DaCosta, Boyle, and the gang have in store for us. Plus, freshly-minted Oscar winner Cillian Murphy is back – wonder what Jimmy’s been up to in the past three decades…
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