Posted by Filmed back to back with last year’s film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is upon us. Directed not by Danny Boyle this time but by Nia Dacosta (Candyman), The Bone Temple is the second film in the new trilogy and one with a very different, and less claustrophobic, tone.
For what started out as a zombie film, we do not see many of them – the focus is on man and its ability for depravity. Bone Temple picks up where 28 Years left off, following Jack O’Connell’s deliciously wicked Sir Jimmy Lord Crystal and his gang of demented followers all called Jimmy. How they forcibly enlist Spike and wreak overdone gory havoc wherever they go. We see their twisted worldview, their satanic worship of their leader Sir Jimmy and their horrific new meaning to the word charity.
Alongside that we see Dr Ian Kelson, an imperious Ralph Fiennes, as he slowly but surely communicates more with the alpha ‘zombie’ Samson – an imposing, Jason Momoa lookalike, Chi Lewis-Parry. Dr Kelson’s parts bring the lightness and moments of brevity, including him merrily singing along to Duran Duran and dancing with Samson.
Both of these parties, and their opposing worldviews, come together in a tumultuous and entertaining spectacle. Which has plenty of fire, melodrama, an inverted cross and the odd bit of Iron Maiden. As we know there is another one coming, it does have one eye on setting up a sequel – with certain threads left hanging for the sake of it. On the plus side though, it does end on an intriguing note.
Whilst not reaching the heights of 28 Years, Bone Temple is a refreshing take on the series – a dark, ultra violent and at times funny look at the fall of society, with things to say about religion and science. Although I would have liked to have seen Spike’s dad feature.
7/10
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