When he’s not entertaining Jimmys, Dr. Kelson has been dealing with one of the infected, an Alpha he’s named Samson. Samson’s go-to combat move is to pull his opponent’s head off and yank out their spine. It’s a definitive coup-de-gras and he’s large and powerful enough to employ it whenever he’s in a fight. Kelson figures out how to calm Samson with morphine tipped blow darts. Samson becomes addicted and comes back to see Kelson frequently for another shot. Given that the powerful drug mitigates the berserker psychosis of the virus, even though it’s temporary, Kelson begins to wonder if there are other meds that might have a longer-lasting effect, and begins experimenting on Samson.
Danny Boyle produced 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and he directed the previous film, as well as the original 2002 feature 28 Days Later. Screenwriter Alex Garland has also been on the project since the beginning. Boyle and Garland have said that 28 Years Later reflects British separatism and cultural deterioration, with the film’s quarantined Britain serving as an allegory for their isolation following Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the played-out zombie trope, the film works on multiple levels and with multiple themes. DeCosta takes us further into the gleeful madness here, adding her unique imprint on the pace and atmosphere, setting it apart from the other films in the series. She made history as the first Black woman to direct a Marvel film, The Marvels, in 2023, and directed the Candyman sequel in 2021.
“…wildly entertaining, never predictable…”
Having Jimmy Crystal model himself after a famous celebrity whose name was ruined by scandal is a poke at the British media’s obsession with celebrity. Jack O’Connell brings Crystal to life in all his mad glory. Fiennes delivers as the consummate actor, again, as Kelson. The supporting roles maintain this solid gold standard as well. The standout performance in this film is by Chi Lewis-Parry, who transforms Samson from a raging beast into the emergence of his long-buried humanity.
Of course, as much horrible fun as the Jimmys are, the main point is the progress that Kelson makes with Samson, giving real hope that it may be possible to reclaim the souls living with the Rage virus, and so stop its spread. With Garland crafting the script and DeCosta at the wheel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a winner on all fronts. It is wildly entertaining, never predictable, and explores the clash between superstition and tradition versus hard science. The unruly twists of this film remind us of Danny Boyle’s crazy energy in Trainspotting. A third and final film in this series is planned, with Cillian Murphy, the executive producer and star of the first film, to be featured in a leading role.
"…despite the played-out zombie trope, the film works on multiple levels and with multiple themes."
