Release Date: 15 Jan 2026
Directed By: Nia DaCosta
Run Time: 110 min
REVIEW
Last year’s 28 Years Later tossed us back into the world of the infected and introduced some new memorable characters.
I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t really into it. 28 Years Later lacked the grit and grime of the original, and the story just didn’t connect with me. It’s possible my specific expectations were always going to let me down, but I definitely wasn’t pumped for the next one.
That quickly changed, however, after watching the trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Suddenly, my hopes were renewed. It seemed like things were going to get zany, and my fingers were crossed for some mayhem.
I gotta say, Nia DaCosta delivered the goods. Taking the reins from Danny Boyle couldn’t have been easy, but she did it with style and flair. Bone Temple is a solid entry into this series, and, in my opinion, shines a little brighter than its predecessor.
Delving into the psychotic gang of acrobatic Jimmies was exactly what I hoped for, but I do feel like their storyline could have been pushed a bit further.
Several reviews even liken their antics to a particular French extreme horror film, which is quite the comparison. And, while I disagree that Bone Temple goes that far, it will be more than enough to make most viewers squirm.
What caught me off-guard the most in Bone Temple, though, was the expansion of the Samson/Kelson plot line. It tugged on the idea that the infected aren’t just lost savages, doomed to eat human flesh. They are just that, infected, and by no fault of their own, forced to live out their curse. Their humanity isn’t gone, it’s just buried.
The climactic smash-up between the two story lines occurs with epic proportions, and it had me laughing and clapping with glee. This was worth the price of admission alone and needs to be seen on the big screen for full effect. 2025 gave us Sinners and the incredible dance floor scene, and 2026 has Ralph Fiennes and his bone temple.
The film closes with a huge teaser, and I’m crossing my fingers that it will officially be announced soon that a third instalment is on its way. Danny Boyle has already said he would direct the third if it were made, and I think the series needs a proper send-off.
So definitely go see Bone Temple, even if you weren’t super keen on 28 Years Later, and catch it on the big screen for sure. You’re gonna thank me when the madness starts.
New Zealand Horror Fans 