28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Review

The Bone Temple Review: A Wild, Gruesome, Surprisingly Solid Sequel

Well… That Was Not What I Expected

Twist my eyebrows and mail me to Alaska, because The Bone Temple was absolutely not the experience I thought I was walking into.

Let’s be real. Now that the hype dust has settled, we can collectively admit that 28 Years Later didn’t exactly deliver the triumphant return the trailer promised. Sure, it had standout moments backed by strong performances, but it also stumbled over a disjointed structure, plot conveniences, and an ending that left the audience scratching their heads like they’d just missed an entire chapter.

So naturally, expectations were low for the sequel—especially since it was helmed by the very same director who gave us The Marvels.

And yet… surprise.

It’s actually pretty good.

Not movie-of-the-year good like some people are claiming, and yes, it definitely feels more like a high-budget expansion pack than a standalone narrative. But The Bone Temple is undeniably a solid horror entry—gruesome, unpredictable, and anchored by one of the most compelling villain performances in recent years.

I’ll keep things mostly spoiler-free, but to explain the setup, we need a little bit of context.

The Story Kicks Off Immediately After the Last Film

We pick up right where 28 Years Later left off. Spike has been captured by Jimmy and his roaming cult of “Jimmies” and is told he can join them—if he kills one of them in hand-to-hand combat.

He does.

Lord Jimmy, as he calls himself, is a terrifying drifter leader who rules his group using equal parts charisma and absolute fear. They wander the countryside murdering anyone who gets in their way, despite somehow surviving without gear, shelter, or any real plan.

How have they lasted this long?

Why haven’t infected hordes overrun them?

How has no one else taken them out?

No idea. The movie doesn’t explain it. We just roll with it.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson is experimenting on Massive Dong Man—who, after being heavily tranquilized over and over, is starting to exhibit signs of humanity. Could the rage virus be reversible? The film toys with the idea, but doesn’t spoon-feed answers.

Eventually the two groups collide after one of the Jimmies sees Kelson and Massive Dong Man moving together and assumes Kelson is summoning Satan himself. Convenient, since Jimmy’s gang happens to be full-time devil worshippers.

What follows is a collision course between Kelson, Jimmy, and the moral chaos between them.

This Isn’t Spike’s Movie — And That’s Okay

If you were expecting a full continuation of Spike’s arc, you’re probably going to be disappointed. He’s more of an observer this time, watching the story unfold rather than driving it.

The real narrative weight rests on Kelson and Lord Jimmy—and honestly, that’s where the movie shines the brightest.

Lord Jimmy: One of the Best Horror Villains in Years

This is where the movie finds its teeth.

Jimmy is unpredictable in all the best and worst ways. One moment he’s paternal, charming, and even funny; the next he’s quiet and contemplative; and then suddenly he unleashes horrific brutality without warning. He commands loyalty through sheer terror, and his gang follows him because they’re petrified to do anything else.

His stylistic choices never get explained—particularly why he models himself after a controversial UK figure—but the film expects audiences to just go with it.

And honestly? You do.

Jack O’Conno absolutely devours this role. He dominates every scene he’s in and delivers a villain performance that outshines the protagonist entirely. This is very much his movie—an exploration of evil wrapped in charisma and chaos.

Not Every Casting Choice Lands

While the villain performance is top-tier, not everyone rises to the occasion.

Aaron Kellyman (a familiar face to Disney+ audiences) feels miscast. Her character needs a hardened, intense survivor—someone with grit and emotional range. Instead, she often appears stiff and out of place, especially beside actors giving their all.

It’s not career-ending, but it’s noticeable.

Strong Directing and Cinematography — Finally

This is where D. Costa gets to breathe as a filmmaker. She leans heavily into Danny Boyle–style visual language: frenetic shots, stylized framing, fast-cut editing. And honestly? It works.

Unlike her Marvel project, here she feels unrestrained, confident, and fully in her element. The action is tight, the visuals are sharp, and the tone lands perfectly for a grim, violent horror film.

And speaking of violent…

If You Like Gore, Buckle Up

Good grief.

The first act is an onslaught of gore so brutal I caught myself looking away from the screen more than once—and that does not happen often. Torture scenes, body horror, and raw, unfiltered chaos dominate the early part of the movie.

It eases off eventually, but the message is clear:

This film came to prove something.

The Plot Is Simple, but the Characters Carry It

The 28 Years Later films were never known for complex narratives. They’ve always leaned more on themes, characters, and atmosphere. And that holds true here. When Jimmy or Kelson are on screen, the pacing is fantastic. When they’re not… the energy dips.

World-building doesn’t expand much. We don’t get meaningful answers about Spike’s father. In fact, he’s not mentioned at all.

And truthfully, the whole movie feels like it could’ve been folded into the previous film if the first act of 28 Years Later had been trimmed.

Final Verdict: A Strong Horror Sequel With Room to Improve

Despite its flaws, The Bone Temple is a damn solid horror entry—gory, tense, well-acted, and anchored by an incredible villain. It wraps up most of the loose ends from the last movie but still leaves the door wide open for another sequel with an ending that is definitely going to spark debate.

Am I dying to revisit this universe?

Not really.

But will I watch the next movie?

Yeah. Probably. Just to see how this all finally ends.

And if you’re a fan of the franchise, you should too.

That’s it for today.

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