After last year’s “28 Years Later” turned out to be one of the best surprises of 2025, you think I would have learned to stop going into these things with any expectations; maybe the third time will be the charm.

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is the sequel to “28 Years Later” and the fourth film of the popular zombie franchise overall. In the film, the young Spike (Alfie Williams) is now under the tutelage of crazed cult leader Jimmy (Jack O’Connell), while Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) continues his research of the Rage Virus. Series creator Danny Boyle, who directed two of the previous three films, steps back into a producer role while Nia DaCosta takes over the reigns, and Alex Garland returns to write the screenplay.

I was so happily surprised by “28 Years Later.” It managed to make so many bold and unique creative decisions that worked and looked gorgeous (compared to the 2002 original which was shot on a potato), all en route to the #2 spot on my Top 10 list. I was really interested in how the follow-up would work, especially with the bonkers ending of “28 Years” and Boyle handing over directing duties to Nia DaCosta, known largely for her “Candyman” reboot and MCU joint “The Marvels” (both of which have flaws but I don’t think her eye for visuals is one of them). I should have known to expect the unexpected, because while “Bone Temple” has the same visual aesthetic of its predecessor, DaCosta largely trades scares from zombies for the horrors of mankind, and for the most part the big swings pay off.

Jack O’Connell was a highlight of 2025’s best film “Sinners,” and he is a demonic delight here. Playing the charismatic cult leader Jimmy Crystal, O’Connell is amusing as a Satanic psycho who takes joys in people’s sufferings. As he has shown in previous roles, O’Connell is able to wear a smile while delivering even the most serious of news, and he creates as many laughs as he does chills here. You’re unsure if even he believes the claims he spews, saying that he is speaking directly to the Devil, and luckily he and his group of followers aren’t as goofy as their introduction in “28 Years” would lead one to think.

Ralph Fiennes continues to be the heart of the series as Dr. Ian Kelson, an isolated man who has made it his life’s purpose to create a monument for the remains of humans and infected alike. Fiennes’ moments with Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), the alpha infected, provide some truly touching moments as the pair work to find not only the cure for the virus but the humanity possibly still inside those infected with the Rage Virus. There was one moment in particular that caught my girlfriend and I by such surprise that she gasped and I chuckled, it was handled so well by DaCosta. The film also delves into nature of the virus itself, which recontextualizes previous films; I love when movies can change the way you view the films that came before without outright retconning them.

Now for a zombie film, the movie is kind of light on zombies. Instead, DaCosta chooses to focus on the nature of evil, and how mankind can be no better than mindless monsters when left to its own devices. This offers plenty of intense sequences (as well as a few dark laughs), but may leave some audience members wanting more. That being said, there is a scene set to an Iron Maiden song that is one of the most gleefully bonkers things I have seen in a long while, and the way they leave things off have me looking forward to the concluding film.

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” isn’t as good as its predecessor, and may be underwhelming in a few regards, but it continues the franchise’s tradition of being impossible to predict and of offering audiences things that they may have not have even known they wanted. I think the tender moments continue to work really well, and four films deep it’s cool that the filmmakers are still expanding the lore of the world. I’m interested in how Danny Boyle, who is slated to return to direct the concluding chapter, will tie things up, but at this point I’ve learned not to even try and predict what these wonderful sickos have in store.

Critics Rating: 8/10