Anyone who watched and enjoyed 28 Days Later in 2025 would be waiting in strong anticipation for this sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. And it’s finally here in cinemas. Still produced by Danny Boyle - the creator of the IP, and written by Alex Garland, but in this fourth film of the series, Boyle has passed the directing baton to Nia DaCosta, who may be best known for her 2021 Candyman.

What engaged the audience in last year’s 28 Years Later was how it transcended being a post-apocalyptic zombie film and also served as a touching coming-of-age story, with Spike (Alfie Williams) as an acting revelation, the young boy forced to grow up overnight or face extinction. Having Ralph Fiennes portray the other major figure, Dr. Ian Kelson, guaranteed a high level of acting in a horror film. And being teased with the end-film scenes of Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’ Connell), a charismatic psycho leader of a survivor cult, only made one impatient for this next installment.

So does this Bone Temple live up to the hype and bated breath? To be very honest, if you are a fan, then this one is served up with the right temperature for you. You won’t mind the long exposition, and the dearth of action in the middle of the film. The character arcs, the Science and cult behavior themes, the depth of the storyline, the trial and error of Dr. Kelson - these will all be appreciated by this captivated audience.

If, on the other hand, you haven’t watched 28 Years Later and have been dragged to this film by a fan, be ready for confusion, scratching of your head, and frustration over the slow narrative. This is not a standalone film, and it’s more of a gift to the franchise’s loyal fanbase. The ‘rage virus’ is still at the center of this film, and one major narrative strand is about Dr. Kelson reaches out to an infected Alpha he refers to as Samson, and tries to get him to communicate. In fact, Dr. Kelson provides the real backbone and heart to this film.

And if our main interest was to see how Spike would do when joined up with the Jimmys, and their crazed leader, Jimmy Crystal, this film answers this only in part. In fact, if the first film had an engrossing arc for the Spike character, we don’t get all that much of one in this film. I’d even file the complaint that, rather than this sequel serving as a journey of self-discovery, Spike is more of a tour guide and observer. Is this arc being kept in reserve for a future installment?

That would certainly seem to be the case when a survivor from the very first 2002 film, 28 Days Later, shows up for the movie’s very end. And of course, the audience ate this up and loved it, the promise that this franchise film’s journey has not come to a close.

As someone who liked 28 Years Later, this was an enjoyable viewing experience, but I couldn’t help but observe how the uninitiated would find it cumbersome to follow the storyline.