REVIEW: 28 YEARS LATER - THE BONE TEMPLE

4/5

The Bone Collector

109 Mins. Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman & Chi Lewis-Parry. Screenplay: Alex Garland. Director: Nia DaCosta. In: Theatres.

Seemingly 28 minutes later comes '28 Year Later: The Bone Temple'. Not to be confused with the '28 Years Later' predecessor that came just over a half year ago. Although these two, streaming service search confusions of the future, were shot back-to-back for the '28 Days Later' post-apocalyptic horror franchise from director Danny Boyle ('Trainspotting', 'Slumdog Millionaire', '127 Hours') and writer Alex Garland ('Ex Machina', 'Annihilation', 'Civil War') that never gave us any months. Garland's been here for the last few weeks, but Boyle sits out of this one. He'll be back for the next and final chapter, mind you, which will also see the return of fellow executive producer and the first film and franchise's original face, Cillian Murphy ('Sunshine', 'Peaky Blinders', 'Oppenheimer'). As if you didn't know who that guy was. Breaking through to the other side the first time we saw him alone in hospital scrubs, walking a cleared Big Smoke. 

'Top Boy' director Nia DaCosta ('Candyman', 'The Marvels') handles directing duties here, and her vision is a vivid one. Danny has a champion with this one, much better than when he gave the game up for '28 Weeks Later', which is still a decent horror flick. This franchise has given us all sorts of stars. Naomie Harris. Idris Elba. Jeremy Renner. Most recently, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer. But lately, among the blood and guts of zombie-land movies and shows like 'World War Z' and 'The Walking Dead' (to bite at just a few), the twin '28 Years' films have been much deeper and darker fare. As cerebral as they are compelling. Not to mention as twisted as they are terrifying. Mining this sort of metaphorical storytelling substance from a genre that was in style maybe, say 28 years ago (sorry, I couldn't resist). Who would have thought it? Yet, it's all thanks to the great Ralph Fiennes ('Conclave', 'The Menu', 'The King's Man'). M's 'English Patient' has been on a tear lately. And as an iodine saturated medicine man, some will see as a quack, he gives us and this double-act its beating heart and human touch. And just wait until he takes the needle off Depeche Mode and drops it on Iron Maiden.

Brutal, but beautiful, welcome to 'The Bone Temple'. Equal measures disturbing and touching. Sometimes you'll be moved to genuine tears and won't be able to hold back your sobs. Others, you'll barely be able to look at the screen or hold your lunch. Be warned, whichever one you're not comfortable with. If not both. Personified perfectly by '28 Years Later' breakout star Alfie Williams ('His Dark Materials'). Doing for fear itself what multiple award-winner and next one up, Owen Cooper did for the anger of 'Adolescence'. During the post credits ("...") of the last film, we saw him rescued by a gang of blonde wig wearers led by Jack O'Connell ('This Is England', 'Unbroken', 'Back To Black'). But was he really? And did you hear right? Yes, for the second one. The 'Starred Up' star, with shades of his 'Sinners' demon, plays a satanist called Sir Jimmy, who leads a gang of members who all also call themselves Jimmy (including a standout Erin Kellyman ('The Green Knight', 'Solo: A Star Wars Story', 'The Falcon and The Winter Soldier')). Hmm!

Now then, having a trackie and gold chain wearing gang is too close for comfort, even without the cigar. A curious choice at best, this gang who grew up watching the Teletubbies also seemingly, albeit not stated, take their look from Jimmy Saville. The disgraced TV presenter whose abusive acts and callous crimes are too dark and disturbing to report here. No amount of O'Connell charm (so honest and good in the West End adaptation of Tennessee Williams' 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof' with Sienna Miller, almost a decade back now) can get past that and one truly horrific scene that more than shows that the real horror comes from humanity, like a Stephen King novel. Yet, the actor himself has remarked that this is Garland's social commentary on the dangers of idolizing a figure that may be hiding who they truly are, as this Sir Jimmy and his disciple like Fingers (yep) show us what happens to a revolting youth with no parental, or guardian guidance. And remember, they were just kids watching Tinky Winky and Dipsy when the virus hit. Perhaps coloured costumes and aerials on their head would have been better. Now, how's that?

Contrasting that elsewhere in this legendary, guerilla franchise with the iconic theme, and even deeper ones to match, is the bromance bond between alpha Samson and new franchise favourite, Fiennes. If you thought Chi Lewis-Parry bared all in the last film (he really did, Karl-Anthony Towns voice), then just wait until you see this one. His zombie head won't be the only thing that's talked about this time 'round, as the mind moves more towards hope after the last inspired instalment made for a truly moving movie, shrouded in sorrow and that dark ache of despair. To say more would be to spoil, but it's time to start mocking up those IMDB and Wikipedia pages for Lewis-Parry because he really can act. Not just some big guy with a big, ahem. He really finds the beating heart below the beast that rages inside (steady) influencing even more insight into this Z genre, and its viral message. One that looks to continue via the big-three of Boyle, Garland and Murphy's lore. Back to basics, the franchise fans will love it. But these films are nothing now, especially when it comes to feeling, without the temple of the dog. Bones and all. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: '28 Years Later', '28 Weeks Later', '28 Days Later'