If more post-apocalyptic movies were of this tone and style, I’d say keep them coming.

After the events of 28 Years Later, this sequel starts with our main character Spike (Alfie Williams) going through an initiation to officially join the Jimmy Savile-styled group full of degenerates, labelled each as “Jimmy”, led by one Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). No recap, no flashbacks: just straight into the thick of it, expecting its audience to be up to speed.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’s focus is partly on Sir Crystal and his group, and the other half on outbreak survivor Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) and his titular ossuary. The latter suddenly gets random visits from zombie alpha Samson (Chi-Lewis Perry) from the first film, though not as hostile like the last time as Ian proactively placates and communicates with the big giant savage while coming across a medical revelation that could alter the 28 Days Later universe moving forward.

Thankfully the who close-to-two-hours film doesn’t lose the plot and flows at a good pace. There are some in-between introspective scenes between the two camps as they eventually collide in the last third. The overall themes of cultural decline and the breakdown of isolationism -the Jimmy Savile group’s cult-like behaviour and Ian bonding with the Samson the zombie alpha- are still prevalent and explored without being shoved down our throats like a pandering lecture. Director Nia Costa and the script by Alex Garland help communicate those themes effectively with lovely vistas, close-ups of our broken leads, and diagetic use of late 80s/early 90s British music, all combined expertly.

The last third of the film goes for a more comedic-slash-suspenseful route of cat-and-mouse as opposed to the last film’s action beats, though this sequel isn’t short on gore and bloodletting. From the earlier initiation ceremony to the same group getting some “charity” out of its targets in a random village, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple isn’t shy about being gritty, violent, and shocking. While a certain plot item in this sequel’s conclusion opens up more questions than answers, it’s still a fitting wrap-up that opens up room for more stories to be told in this universe, with even a long-awaited cameo in the series fans have been clamouring for.

What 28 Years Later started, The Bone Temple caps off remarkably well with its much-needed change of focus on different protagonists with more to tell and fascinate in this bleak-yet-interesting filmscape. It sure as hell isn’t a standalone film, as its makers expect you and the audience to do their homework. However, it’s worth revisiting the first film again and seeing how this subdued and unique take on the zombie trope evolves to this possible capstone film.

Final Score: 80/100