7 Reasons Why The Reviews For 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Are So Positive

With 28 Years Later, the terrifying world of the Rage virus – originally created by director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland – made a thrilling comeback. Now, Alex Garland is continuing the story with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, but this time Nia DaCosta, an acclaimed director, took over from Boyle. Early reviews suggest she’s done an excellent job.

Each installment of the 28 Days Later series has shown the spread of the Rage Virus and its impact on England, focusing on a different stage of its development. The Bone Temple is unique because, unlike previous films, it continues the story immediately after the last one, with the same characters.

Reviewers generally praised Boyle’s 2025 film for its unique look and bolder storytelling, though some choices didn’t quite work. While the movie seems to be deliberately breaking from established traditions, its strong positive reception – as evidenced by the incredibly high Rotten Tomatoes score – suggests that DaCosta and Garland achieved success in areas where the recent film 28 Years Later fell slightly short.

7. Nia DaCosta Breaks From Danny Boyle’s Visual Style (And That’s A Good Thing)

Danny Boyle’s fast-paced, realistic shooting style gave the first three 28 Days Later films a distinct look and helped create the terrifying, gritty world of the Rage Virus. Director Nia DaCosta chose a different approach for the latest film, opting for a more polished and deliberate visual style that builds tension and fear through the action itself.

Rodrigo Perez from The Playlist observed that director Juel Taylor DaCosta takes a different approach than Danny Boyle, choosing a slower, more deliberate style while still maintaining a sense of tension. Some viewers worried DaCosta’s vision wouldn’t match Boyle’s, and while the films certainly look different, this is actually a strength. Critics have consistently praised DaCosta’s ability to blend beauty with a sense of emptiness and despair.

6. The Violence Is Brutal And Unrelenting

A consistent strength of the 28 Days Later series has always been its use of intense violence and gore to drive the narrative. Director Daniel DaCosta clearly understood this, and Josh Korngut from Dread Central highlighted the film’s “punishing terror and nightmarish violence” in his review.

The core of the 28 Days Later series has always explored the capacity for human violence, regardless of whether people are infected with the Rage Virus. Reviewers generally agree that The Bone Temple stays true to this theme, and may even do so more effectively than any previous film in the franchise.

5. Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Kelson Is One Of The Franchise’s Greatest Characters

With a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, critics overwhelmingly praised The Bone Temple. While ratings varied, almost everyone agreed on one thing: Ralph Fiennes delivered a fantastic performance. Many believe this role is among his best work, showcasing a deeply complex and captivating character thanks to his full dedication.

Despite early marketing suggesting he’d be a villain, Ralph Fiennes’ character, Dr. Kelson, provided a welcome calm amidst the intense violence of 28 Years Later. He was a quiet but powerful figure, acting as a compassionate helper, and completely captivated audiences in every scene. We can expect even more of his character in the upcoming film, The Bone Temple.

4. The Narrative Embraces Dark, Ironic Humor

Despite its serious themes and intense violence, critics agree that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple skillfully uses humor to lighten the mood without undermining the story’s darkness. Jack O’Connell’s over-the-top villain and his followers provide much of this welcome humor, which is especially important considering how disturbing some parts of the story are.

The new film isn’t holding back, and in a surprisingly effective way. According to Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press, it “combines gruesome horror with genuinely funny moments, both challenging and redefining the genre.” This is unusual for a series known for being serious, but reports suggest that the filmmakers have perfectly balanced the dark and comedic elements.

3. Jack O’Connell’s Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal Is A Top-Flight Villain

Jack O’Connell first gained attention for his role as the charming vampire Remmick in the popular series Sinners, but many believe his performance as Lord Sir Jimmy Crystal is even more impressive. Though we only saw a glimpse of Crystal at the end of 28 Years Later, he’s poised to be a major character, especially as a key figure in the story of Alfie Williams’ Spike.

As Crystal, actor Robert O’Connell portrays the most terrifying villain in the 28 Days Later series. Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent praised O’Connell’s ability to make such a complex and purely evil character believable. Critics consistently point to Jimmy Crystal as a standout – though disturbingly so – and one scene featuring him is reportedly so shocking and cruel that it’s difficult to watch.

2. The Bone Temple Balances Nihilism With Hope

Despite the often bleak and disturbing nature of this series, a sense of hope has always remained central. As Jim (Cillian Murphy) famously said in the first film, things aren’t completely hopeless. This was powerfully demonstrated in 28 Years Later, where the heartbreaking death of Spike’s mother (Jodie Comer, in a quietly excellent performance) was balanced by the strong comfort and bravery found in love and cherished memories.

What really struck me about 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is how, even amidst all the horror and action, there’s this thread of hope and beauty woven throughout. Ralph Fiennes’ character, Dr. Kelson, really embodies that. As Ross Bonaime at Collider put it, the movie manages to find warmth and empathy even in the bleakest moments. Honestly, the fact that director Garland and DaCosta pulled off balancing that emotional core with the intense violence and surprisingly good humor feels almost impossible – it’s a really impressive achievement.

1. The Sequel Ends Strong And Sets Up The Trilogy’s Final Chapter

When you go to see The Bone Temple, keep in mind that it’s not only a follow-up to 28 Years Later, but also the second part of a planned three-movie story. Critics loved the movie’s surprising ending and overwhelmingly agree that it will leave viewers eager for the final installment, which has already been approved and will once again star Cillian Murphy.

The ending of 28 Years Later sparked a lot of debate – some viewers were confused by its sudden change in tone, while others were curious to see what would happen next. But critics seem to agree that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has a much clearer conclusion. They’re calling it exciting and fun, and importantly, it effectively sets the stage for the final movie in the series.

2026-01-14 06:20