As Spike is inducted into Jimmy Crystal’s gang on the mainland, Dr. Kelson makes a discovery that could alter the world.

Coming a little over 6 months after ’28 Years Later’, the second part of this ‘new’ trilogy is subheaded ‘The Bone Temple’ and it picks up the story directly after the events of last year’s film. The story on this occasion centres on Spike’s (Alfie Williams) initiation into Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal and his satanist gang of ‘Jimmies’, the warped Jimmy Savile inspired gang of youths that caused such a stir with their appearance at the end of the last film. Nia DaCosta takes over directing duties from Danny Boyle, and has commented that if the last film was about the nature of family, this one was about the nature of evil, and that is thoughtfully explored throughout by Alex Garland’s script.

It doesn’t take long for the audience and Spike to be introduced to just how sadistic Jimmy Crystal and his gang are, with Jack O’Connell delivering an unnerving and menacing performance as a satanist trying to maintain control of his gang, but the more interesting parts of ‘The Bone Temple’ centre on an expanded role for Ralph Fiennes Dr Ian. Kelman. Kelman was a striking figure in the last film, with his iodine soaked skin giving the look of blood red, and his unorthodox approach to dealing with death and the changes as a result of the virus. A key plot strand centres on his interactions with Samson, the dominant Alpha introduced in ’28 Years Later’, which are both about Kelman’s attempts to find a cure while also bonding in a way with the infected man. This is one strand of the ‘nature of evil’ that DaCosta references, whereas with the Jimmies it is more overt.

As for DaCosta, I liked that her directorial style was not merely a continuation of Boyle’s work on the series and took a different approach, ramping up the gore and fear as we followed the psychotic Jimmies. A lot of what I liked about ’28 Years Later’ was the thematic touchpoints that were explored between the thrilling zombie action, and I felt the same about ‘The Bone Temple’, which deepened those philosophical viewpoints introduced in the last film. The performances do help, I’ve already mentioned Jack O’Connell, but it’s Ralph Fiennes who provides the beating heart of this movie and I loved his character and his scenes. Memento Mori indeed.

I enjoyed ’28 Years Later’ and I enjoyed ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ just as much, and the teased third (or fifth) film in the series will certainly have my attention if it is made.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Nia DaCosta

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry, Emma Laird, Maura Bird, Ghazi Al Ruffai, Sam Locke and Cillian Murphy

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt32141377/