Nia DaCosta's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has arrived, injecting new life into the post-apocalyptic horror series. The film, a direct continuation of 28 Years Later (2025), carves its own path while deepening the dread established in earlier installments. Written by Alex Garland and directed by DaCosta, The Bone Temple marks the fourth overall installment in the 28 Days Later film series.
Critics are largely positive, with praise directed towards DaCosta's direction and the performances of Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 93% of 83 critics' reviews are positive, summarizing the film as a worthy continuation that "ups the gore while deepening the dread". Metacritic assigned a score of 79 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
The Bone Temple picks up shortly after the events of 28 Years Later, plunging viewers back into a Britain ravaged by the "rage virus". However, rather than simply retreading familiar ground, DaCosta explores new themes and introduces unsettling elements. The film delves into the ease with which communal systems can be corrupted and twisted towards vicious ends. It examines the origins of cruelty, the allure it holds for leaders, and potential strategies to combat it.
O'Connell plays a character named Jimmy, a self-proclaimed prince with a band of followers. They are all dressed in similar attire and are skilled at slaying the infected, but their true nature is far from benevolent.
The film expands upon the mythology introduced in 28 Days Later, with some of the infected evolving into Alphas. Chi Lewis-Parry portrays Samson, an Alpha, with terrifying depth.
The movie was first released in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2026, as part of a double bill with 28 Years Later. It was released individually on January 14. The United States release occurred on January 16, 2026.
DaCosta's experience in horror is evident, with previous credits including Candyman (2021) and Hedda (2025). The film is visually striking, with cinematography by Sean Bobbit. Hildur Guðnadóttir, who previously collaborated with DaCosta on Candyman and Hedda, created the musical score. Visual effects were overseen by Adam Gascoyne, with Dean Koonjul and Rob Vassie as key VFX leads.
