“Memento Mori” means “remember you must die”. This phrase was used in 28 Years Later when Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) talks to Spike (Alfie Williams) about the meaning of the structures he has built. There is something in the way Ralph Fiennes talks about death that seems so soothing. In a way, you feel comforted and are ready to accept what will happen next. While 28 Years Later was about the end of life, The Bone Temple focuses on the continuation of life after death. 

The Bone Temple starts a few hours after the end of 28 Years Later. We see Spike and the Jimmys in an initiation ritual. Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) watches as his group of Jimmys tease and provoke young Spike into doing something he does not want to do. The scene is filled with tension, and you fear for the young boy who has never experienced anything like this. In this new world, it is survival of the fittest, and young Spike needs to adapt to survive. 

One of the many concepts covered in Nia DaCosta’s The Bone Temple is the duality of man. In Sir Jimmy Crystal, we see how man can devolve and become the most heinous thing, using religion as a justification for his actions. In Dr. Kelson, a man of science, we see how he believes that there is still good in those who the rage virus has infected, and he is trying to prove that with Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). These two stories reflect our new reality and make us question, “Has society become too devolved to go back to the way things were before?”

With all the horrors going around in this world, Spike is the audience’s way in as they decide which path they are going to take. We see him struggle when the Jimmys show “charity” to a group of survivors they come across. In these moments, we see the horrors of the Jimmys and how they condone these atrocious acts. Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman) is the one Jimmy who questions whether the god that Sir Jimmy prays to is real or not.

As the movie progresses we see how Dr. Kelson and Samson are forming a unique bond. Samson has become docile to Kelson due to the tranquilizers that Kelson shoots at him. As you watch this bond grow, you can not help but wonder if Samson is going to change or will he attack Kelson without notice. The scenes with the two of them are touching but also keep you wondering what is going to happen next. 

The third act is one that has to be seen. How far would someone go to prove their allegiance to a god that is not there and what happens if there is doubt. The showmanship of Keslon is in full force and the Jimmys are in for a show as they try to believe what they are seeing. It is only a matter of time before the apostles turn on their leader and realize that there is more to the world than what they have been told. The final minutes of The Bone Temple will have you questioning beliefs and have you excited for what is to come. 

Final Thoughts: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a great continuation of what was started in 28 Years Later. This film explores the duality of humanity when laws are not in place. With Dr. Kelson’s character, we see what hope can look like, while the Jimmys show us how evil people can be. This movie features some amazing shots, and the ending is sure to leave everyone talking.

Violence: In The Bone Temple, there are some pretty graphic moments. One scene involving “charity” might be too much for some viewers. Multiple kills throughout the movie show how gruesome people can be when there are no laws. 

Kid-Friendly: This movie is rated R for a reason. The amount of blood shed in one scene might be too much for young kids. Parents, I suggest watching it first and seeing if your kid will be ok watching it. 

Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later – but turning that world on its head – Nia DaCosta directs 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival – the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.