“Fear is the new faith” reads the tagline for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In a world chalk full of “zombie” media, how can the audience have “faith” in a genre that’s so polluted?
That’s the question that’s played on people’s minds since last year’s 28 Years Later – an incredibly divisive dive back into Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s world of rage. Much of the divisive nature of the film came down to one simple fact, it wasn’t what the audiences were expecting.
From trailers released prior, audiences were shown a film that was all horror, no brakes. On release however, the film could not have been more different. In comparison, The Bone Temple, being a direct sequel, was given similar marketing. Interestingly the marketing was more accurate to half of the film’s plot.
The Bone Temple picks up shortly after the end of the previous film with Spike (Alfie Williams) becoming “pals” with Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his gang of roving psychopath’s known as the Jimmy’s. Only a short distance away from the murderous Jimmy’s is Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), the man who built the Bone Temple, as he finds companionship with the alpha infected Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry).
Both plots are on a track to clash, but a significant amount of time is spent split between both. Kelson and Samson embody the heart and humanity central to the 28 series of films, whereas Spike’s experience running with the Jimmy’s is reflective of the cruelty man is capable of, echoing the military from 28 Days Later.
Jimmy, Kelson, and Old Nick
Cruelty is putting what the Jimmy’s do lightly, as the 18 rating the film received from the BBFC is well and truly earned. In one scene the Jimmy’s bestow their “charity” on a group of survivors, it’s a horrible moment that solidifies Jack O’Connell as an actor that can play horrible people, but is still somehow able to make them likable.
Taking over the directing reins from Danny Boyle is Nia DaCosta, best known for directing 2021’s Candyman. Her style is very different from Boyle’s heavily experimental presentation, but still holds the same weight. Using the same digital-camera’s and Iphone’s as Boyle, DaCosta uses extreme close-ups throughout The Bone Temple to establish a tense atmosphere, which differs from Boyle’s mid to close range shots for most scenes outside of moments with the infected.
Her vision fits the story being told, as without her thorough technical understanding and ability to masterfully build suspense from blocking alone, The Bone Temple would not nearly be as thrilling to watch.
The small cast of The Bone Temple all put on career best performances with the now main standouts being Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell. Any scene when both actors are on screen is an absolute joy to watch as they both bounce off of each other naturally. O’Connell has a magnetic pull to him that leaves the audience hating that they love the character, whereas Fiennes’ delicate, if eccentric, performance as Kelson is heartwarming to say the least.
Other cast members such as Chi Lewis-Parry and Alife Williams both excel with the script they are given. Lewis-Parry in particular brings a level of innocence to Samson that was unexpected, but greatly welcomed, harkening back to an almost Frankenstein-esque dynamic between himself and Ralph Fiennes.
The most disappointing element of The Bone Temple is the omission of Young Fathers from the score. In their place is a generic score from Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, however to further differentiate The Bone Temple is the inclusion of diagetic licensed music that takes up a majority of the soundtrack.
Duran Duran are constantly played in scenes between Kelson and Samson, and in one of the most notable moments from the film that has left audiences speechless, Iron Maiden’s classic The Number of the Beast plays over a dance with the devil.
As far as middle chapters of trilogy’s go, The Bone Temple is an undeniable instant horror classic that blends the heart of the previous film with a dynamic new vision which results in a film unlike any other. If you were a fan of last year’s 28 Years Later, get yourself out to see The Bone Temple as soon as possible.
Featured Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Fourth year Film and Journalism student
Deputy editor
Contact - deputyeditor@brignews.com
