28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Rachills + Thrills 1/19/2026 3:15:34PM 8.4

I don’t often walk out of a theater with the only thought on my mind being ‘that was so good’ but here we are. I struggle to care for the messages in most zombie flicks (I know, the rage is different than the undead), but this blossoms into something so rich and so nuanced that I was smiling from ear to ear as we dive into how humans cope with the world and how their perspectives manhandle their approach to survival. It’s fucking nuts, it’s a fucking treat. Thank you Nia DaCosta, thank you Ralph Fiennes, thank you Jack O’Connell. HOWZAT?!

Leno 1/18/2026 11:58:58PM 8.4

The original 28 days later is one of my favorite movies ever so I literally counted the days for painful 18 years since 28 weeks later until the new trilogy was finally announced. The first 28 years later was a bit of disappointment for me, but the bone temple is all I waited for those many years! The movie follows 2 core of characters where they left off the last movie. Spike now is forced to do increasingly insane things as part of Jimmy's satanic cult, while doctor Ian experiments with the Alpha zombie after he displays some reasoning capabilities like a stronger version of "Bub" from the "Day of the dead". The characters paths eventually intersect leading to deadly consequences in this movie packed with action. Impeccable acting, graphic but not exaggerated gore, realistic yet surprising plot, and iconic scenes make this one of the best ever zombie movies, tho this one focuses a bit more on the damage people can cause rather than the zombies. The year is just starting but I have already watched the best movie of 2026, And what a way to end this movie, can't wait for the third installment. What a time to be alive! Ps: make sure you watched the previous 28 years later movie and at least the last 20min of 28 days later.

graeaehorror 2/8/2026 4:38:50PM 8.4

Back in 2002 an 18 year old sat in her local cinema and viewed one of the best zombie films of her generation. Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later changed the game and kickstarted a true juggernaut franchise. Little over 23 years later, a slightly older and still horror obsessed girl sat in a cinema to see the next installment. However this wasn't just a continuation. Nia DaCosta has created a thrilling, dramatic cinematic event that could stand alone in its own right. This is so much more than a zombie film. The infected remain a threat, yet the true horrors lies in societal breakdown and how survivors navigate this dystopian plane of existence. Controversial character choices withstanding, there's no denying Jack O'Connell is the epitome of a true villain with his portrayal of antagonist Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. In a godless world, the bleakest side of humankind is free to wreak havoc. There are scenes exposing the depths to which the depravity of Crystal and his "fingers" will sink, even against themselves. In stark contrast, this movie balances its bleak story with the return of Ralph Fiennes as Dr Ian Kelson. He brings much needed compassion and an optimism for human nature and our ability to exude kindness in a far from ordinary world. Leaning on his medical expertise, he works endlessly to restore this humanity to Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), our marauding alpha. The bone temple itself should be horrific but serves as an "ossuary", a memorial to the deceased. It's an embodiment of his memento mori philosophy, a reminder that death is a part of life. The shining highlight of this film stands within its closing 20 minutes. Set inside the bone temple, we're treated to an absolute masterclass in storytelling, career defining performances (which speaks volumes given the career of Feinnes), and visuals that will live eternally in the minds of its audience. The soundtrack is wonderful, using Duran Duran to elevate moments of joy is a much needed mood boost. But the real powerhouse here comes in the form of Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast. The choice for this to be diegetic is a stroke of genius, providing an injection of drama and elevating the penultimate scene from great to iconic. The Bone Temple succeeds where most films mid-trilogy fail. Instead of falling into precarious plot hole traps (ala The Strangers where we know our lead survives for the final film, thus making the second installment redundant), it builds on the existing story, elevating this trilogy to a near unbeatable level. If DaCosta was not already on your radar of directors to follow, she absolutely should be now. The standards and expectations are insanely high for our final chapter and I for one am excited to see where this goes.