The Bone Temple shows quiet strengths but ultimately feels empty, review says

Movieweb reports that Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the latest sequel in the 28 Days Later universe that takes the helm from Danny Boyle, isn’t a bad movie but feels empty.

The review criticizes the film as “safe” and uninspired, saying it lacks Boyle’s inventive filmmaking and many of Alex Garland’s stranger ideas. The continuation of the Jimmys storyline is described as weightless, Spike is largely relegated to a non-entity, and the cinematography and scripting are judged inferior to what the series has previously offered.

As a counterpoint, the reviewer praises the quiet relationship between Dr. Ian Kelson and a zombie named Samson as the film’s best element, and notes Garland’s introduction of a semi-cure via anti-psychotic medication. The film is listed with a January 16, 2026 release date and a 109-minute runtime, and the review concludes that The Bone Temple is “not necessarily a bad movie; it’s just an empty one.”

Key Topics

Culture, Nia Dacosta, Alex Garland, Danny Boyle, Jimmys