By the way, I assume you're aware of the Jimmy Savile connection with this film. It is a little queasy for us Brits seeing Americans cosplay Sir Jimmy Crystal (in ignorance) given the Savile connection.
The only reason I know about that is from reading your previous review! I would have been totally in the dark about that reference. Definitely goes over our American heads.
By the way, did you feel like the Jimmies were set up at the end of the last movie to be more typical antihero-style good guys? I went into Bone Temple expecting to root for them, but was surprised at how savage and unlikable they quickly became. I can't call it a flaw exactly. I did also wish we saw a little more of that coordinated fighting style they teased at the end of 28 years later.
Because of who the Jimmies looked like, I didn’t expect them to be anything less than repugnant. Certain not antiheroes. I imagine most UK viewers would have thought the same.
I left some comment vomit on the version of this article you posted on Medium, so I'll spare you here, except to reiterate this is characteristically well-written (as always). :)
Wow, I dismissed this one, but I’m now excited! I had some issues with its immediate predecessor, but it’s aged well in my memory. Idk, but the dystopian film genre sounds apropo right now.
That is a pretty good logical objection. I’m a little too good at excusing those sometimes 😂 i’ve just watched too many superhero movies I guess.
I had the same thought! At first there was some confusion online about whether 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple was just the official name of the 2025 one. I was pretty shocked when I learned they were coming out with a followup so soon.
It seems they might be planning to come out with another one on a similar schedule.
There is a third in the works according to Letterboxd called “28 Years Later Part 3! Garland writing & producing, Boyle producing; no director yet.
Danny Boyle’s films have away of growing on me, so it’s possible 28 Years Later does, too. It definitely has in my memory! I didn’t like Sunshine the first time I watched! Now I love it.
But like I mentioned before, the dystopian film genre is super compelling to me rn. Way more stories to tell than just zombies!
I'm in the same boat! (No sail or kitty on mine sadly, though.) Even in brighter times, I've always loved the dystopian genre. But the weirder things get, the more and more appealing and therapeutic it becomes.
By the way, going off our conversation from a few weeks ago, Peru is the destination I've landed on! If by some chance you find yourself within a few hundred kilometers, lets definitely meet up for food or coffee or something. My plans are still developing. How are the Bahamas? Decided on where you're headed next?
Haha that’s a great way to say it! The weirder things get, I crave the nightmares for some relief. You had a term for that right? Like, reverse escapism or something?
And wow about Peru!! That sounds fantastic! And really inspirational honestly. I can’t wait to hear more about it!
The Bahamas are freaking amazing. More interesting than I thought it’d be culturally (turns out you gotta be a bit different to live in some of these remote places), and even more beautiful than I imagined.
Next, we’re thinking maybe Guatemala! There’s a really great area to park the boat for hurricane season, and we may be able to get off the boat for a bit and travel inland. Still unsure though. We might also go to Panama and head through the canal. But lately, we’ve been thinking about the sailboat as more a home to get off & on, and we’re sorta stoked about that possibility!
I loved it! Very different than I expected. It’s really interesting how it builds on that previous one. What about 28 Years Later missed the mark for you?
I loved the little town, all the townspeople, the bridge, and camerawork. But I didn’t think the kid was compelling enough to carry the film or that Jodie Comer created an interesting character at all.
The biggest issue I had was seeing how much dad & son struggled to survive the first round with the zombies, and then seeing how much son & disturbed/barely-with-it mom kicked ass the second round.
That said, not knowing anything about a sequel in the works, I said in my Letterboxd review: “But do I want to see more? Kinda! If this was a pilot of a TV series or new franchise reboot, I’d probably give the next one a shot. But also, something about it feels like a guilty pleasure.”
By the way, I assume you're aware of the Jimmy Savile connection with this film. It is a little queasy for us Brits seeing Americans cosplay Sir Jimmy Crystal (in ignorance) given the Savile connection.
The only reason I know about that is from reading your previous review! I would have been totally in the dark about that reference. Definitely goes over our American heads.
By the way, did you feel like the Jimmies were set up at the end of the last movie to be more typical antihero-style good guys? I went into Bone Temple expecting to root for them, but was surprised at how savage and unlikable they quickly became. I can't call it a flaw exactly. I did also wish we saw a little more of that coordinated fighting style they teased at the end of 28 years later.
Because of who the Jimmies looked like, I didn’t expect them to be anything less than repugnant. Certain not antiheroes. I imagine most UK viewers would have thought the same.
I left some comment vomit on the version of this article you posted on Medium, so I'll spare you here, except to reiterate this is characteristically well-written (as always). :)
Appreciate you taking the time to stop by here as well! Thanks so much, Simon.
Wow, I dismissed this one, but I’m now excited! I had some issues with its immediate predecessor, but it’s aged well in my memory. Idk, but the dystopian film genre sounds apropo right now.
That is a pretty good logical objection. I’m a little too good at excusing those sometimes 😂 i’ve just watched too many superhero movies I guess.
I had the same thought! At first there was some confusion online about whether 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple was just the official name of the 2025 one. I was pretty shocked when I learned they were coming out with a followup so soon.
It seems they might be planning to come out with another one on a similar schedule.
There is a third in the works according to Letterboxd called “28 Years Later Part 3! Garland writing & producing, Boyle producing; no director yet.
Danny Boyle’s films have away of growing on me, so it’s possible 28 Years Later does, too. It definitely has in my memory! I didn’t like Sunshine the first time I watched! Now I love it.
But like I mentioned before, the dystopian film genre is super compelling to me rn. Way more stories to tell than just zombies!
I'm in the same boat! (No sail or kitty on mine sadly, though.) Even in brighter times, I've always loved the dystopian genre. But the weirder things get, the more and more appealing and therapeutic it becomes.
By the way, going off our conversation from a few weeks ago, Peru is the destination I've landed on! If by some chance you find yourself within a few hundred kilometers, lets definitely meet up for food or coffee or something. My plans are still developing. How are the Bahamas? Decided on where you're headed next?
Haha that’s a great way to say it! The weirder things get, I crave the nightmares for some relief. You had a term for that right? Like, reverse escapism or something?
And wow about Peru!! That sounds fantastic! And really inspirational honestly. I can’t wait to hear more about it!
The Bahamas are freaking amazing. More interesting than I thought it’d be culturally (turns out you gotta be a bit different to live in some of these remote places), and even more beautiful than I imagined.
Next, we’re thinking maybe Guatemala! There’s a really great area to park the boat for hurricane season, and we may be able to get off the boat for a bit and travel inland. Still unsure though. We might also go to Panama and head through the canal. But lately, we’ve been thinking about the sailboat as more a home to get off & on, and we’re sorta stoked about that possibility!
I loved it! Very different than I expected. It’s really interesting how it builds on that previous one. What about 28 Years Later missed the mark for you?
I loved the little town, all the townspeople, the bridge, and camerawork. But I didn’t think the kid was compelling enough to carry the film or that Jodie Comer created an interesting character at all.
The biggest issue I had was seeing how much dad & son struggled to survive the first round with the zombies, and then seeing how much son & disturbed/barely-with-it mom kicked ass the second round.
That said, not knowing anything about a sequel in the works, I said in my Letterboxd review: “But do I want to see more? Kinda! If this was a pilot of a TV series or new franchise reboot, I’d probably give the next one a shot. But also, something about it feels like a guilty pleasure.”