28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

When it comes to zombie movies, we’ve got no shortage of options. There are plenty of forgettable ones, but it’s also easy to name the films that actually pushed the genre forward—and one of the biggest was 2002’s 28 Days Later. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland didn’t just make another zombie movie; they set the genre on fire. And from those ashes came something that completely blew our socks off.

Five years later we got 28 Weeks Later, and then… nothing. Radio silence. That is, until 2025’s 28 Years Later. Which once again pushed the genre in unexpected directions, however this time we didn’t have to wait long for the next chapter. After seeing all four films, I feel pretty confident saying that this series might just be the best zombie franchise of all time. Now if only we could agree on what to call it.

Picking up where 28 Years Later left off, we follow Spike (Alfie Williams), who has to earn his place with the “Jimmys” by killing one of them and taking his spot. He looks completely overmatched, but Spike pulls it off—mostly because he has no other choice. As he tries to find his footing with the group, we also catch up with Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), who is living among the bones of this world, quietly studying a zombie named Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). Kelson keeps Samson in a drug-induced trance, observing him with a kind of eerie patience.

Dr. Kelson prefers isolation and understanding, while the Jimmys thrive on chaos. They believe they’re carrying out the will of their master, “Old Nick,” and they want to burn what’s left of the world to the ground. It’s only a matter of time before these two paths collide, and when they do, the film really finds its teeth.

Written by Alex Garland, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple feels like a perfect ending—assuming this is where the series stops. It’s packed with surprises and takes real risks. This isn’t just more of the same. Garland gives us a more intimate, focused story that feels different from anything we’ve seen in this universe before. And with Nia DaCosta behind the camera, the result is a film that’s as visually striking as it is thoughtful.

The Bone Temple is a smartly conceived follow-up that balances genuine dread with just enough madness. The world is bleak and terrifying, but the cinematography is stunning, perfectly complemented by Hildur Guðnadóttir’s pounding score. It all comes together through the performances, especially Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes, who are both outstanding and leave lasting impressions. The rest of the cast fits in nicely, with Erin Kellyman standing out as the friend Spike desperately needs.

What I loved most about The Bone Temple—aside from one scene between O’Connell and Fiennes that’s almost impossible to top—is how lean the movie is. There’s no fat here. Nothing feels wasted. It’s a tight, focused film that manages to scare you while also leaving you in awe. This movie knows exactly what it wants to be, and it nails it. And the fact that it leaves you wanting more is the clearest sign that it is the newest horror series to top.