The second film in a trilogy is usually the troublesome one, and that holds true with “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.”
In the first film — where we learned zombies are everywhere except one isolated place — we discovered a doctor (Ralph Fiennes) who hoped to find a cure for the disease that’s running rampant. He befriended a young boy (Alfie Williams) and helped him through his mother’s death.
While shocking — and bloody — it wasn’t as unrelenting as “The Bone Temple.” Here we see the boy with a cultish gang, led by Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), who kill randomly and cause more trouble than the zombies. Williams’ Spike wants out but can’t quite figure out how. He and another gang member reach the doctor, who has a way of ending the madness.
Jack O’Connell, center, plays Sir Jimmy Crystal in "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple."
The only problem? There’s never a sure path to safety. While Fiennes gets more to do here (he also helps a zombie lose his wild ways), he doesn’t dominate the way O’Connell does. He’s the focus, and he’s truly scary — particularly when he orders his Jimmys (as he calls them) to kill. When he thinks the doctor is someone else, “The Bone Temple” becomes a wild journey, complete with an Iron Maiden soundtrack.
Director Nia DaCosta gives this edition of “28 Years Later” its own vibe, but she largely ignores the community where Spike once lived. She doesn’t capitalize on the boy’s ability to move an audience, either, and she isn’t afraid to let overt violence rule. It’s a bloody, bloody film that would have been better had some moments been less graphic.
The closing minutes guarantee there will be a third edition of this series and should give Williams, a great young actor, a chance to wrap up an engrossing story.
Chi Lewis-Parry, left, and Ralph Fiennes in "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple"
Fiennes does get more time here — particularly helping Samson, played by Chi Lewis-Parry — but needed more scenes with Williams. Those two pop; here, they just dance around the others.
Some of the callbacks are great (the music choices, for example), but DaCosta doesn’t hug the humanity the way “28 Years Later” director Danny Boyle did.
If you thought that film was too much, you’ll discover “The Bone Temple” really is. It’s turned up to 11, and it didn’t have to be.
