28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Has One of the Wildest Horror Movie Endings Ever

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Last summer, the team behind the original horror hit 28 Days Later – Danny Boyle and Alex Garland – finally released the long-awaited sequel, 28 Years Later. While it didn’t bring back any of the original characters, the movie was a success and proved there were still compelling stories to tell in a post-apocalyptic England devastated by a truly original virus. Excitingly, this wasn’t intended to be a one-off film; plans are already in place for a complete trilogy. And as a bonus, the sequel was filmed immediately after the first movie, streamlining production.

It’s been about 28 weeks since 28 Years Later came out, and now the sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is finally here. The movie quickly follows up on the original, taking the story in unexpected and often strange directions. The ending is pretty shocking, but it also sets up an exciting continuation of the story. Be warned: spoilers ahead!

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’s Two Storylines Explained

The plot of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple revolves around two main elements. First, there’s Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his group of followers, whom he calls his “fingers.” Stuck in a childish state due to the trauma of the Rage Virus outbreak, Sir Lord Jimmy has created a persona where he leads his band around inflicting cruelty on others – a difficult reality for the newest recruit, young Spike (Alfie Williams). Jimmy claims these acts of torture are done in the name of his father, Satan (or “Old Nick”), who he believes has unleashed the infected upon the world. While it’s obvious Jimmy is inventing this story as he goes, many of his followers are desperate for leadership in a chaotic world and readily follow him, creating a dark, twisted echo of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.

A key part of the story involves Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) returning to investigate the infected at the Bone Temple. It quickly becomes apparent that his use of morphine on the local alpha, Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), has had an unexpected consequence: Samson has become addicted and now actively seeks out Kelson for daily injections. Kelson continues to treat Samson as though he’s capable of understanding, maintaining his belief that the Rage Virus causes a mental illness rather than a typical infection.

While Samson was under sedation, he was about to end the life of the Alpha, but the infected man suddenly spoke, gazing at the moon and uttering a single word: “Moon.” This simple moment deeply affected Kelson, renewing his determination to find a cure for the Rage Virus. It also sparked a change in Samson, who began to reflect on his own existence, even starting to wear clothes and appreciate small sensations like the feeling of water. Though the cure Dr. Kelson eventually developed took time to work, Samson was ultimately freed, surviving an attack by other infected thanks to his immense strength. The way these two storylines finally come together in the ending is truly remarkable.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Ending Explained

Following an attack on a rural family, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal dispatches Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman) on a solo assignment. During her mission, she observes Dr. Kelson and Samson at a strange structure called the Bone Temple, and reports back to the group, claiming she saw Satan – or “Old Nick” – in person. She believes this because of the temple built from bones, and because she saw a man with red skin (caused by iodine) dancing with Samson. The others, especially Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, are doubtful, as he seems to have been improvising his supposed Satanic rituals for years.

When Jimmy Ink guides the group to the Bone Temple, they find Dr. Kelson there, just as they expected. Spike realizes Dr. Kelson is a harmless old man, but everything about the situation suggests he might be the devil, Old Nick. Despite being scared and confused, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal goes to confront Dr. Kelson by himself. Initially, he thinks he’s actually found Satan, but a conversation reveals Dr. Kelson is just a regular man. However, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal gets a clever idea: he’ll use Dr. Kelson to help him pretend to be Satan, convincing his followers and silencing anyone who questions him. After being threatened, Dr. Kelson reluctantly agrees, hoping to save his life and continue his research.

That night, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal and his crew arrived at The Bone Temple. Inside, Dr. Kelson had created a disturbing scene, marking the space with an inverted cross and covering himself in ghostly makeup to look like a skeleton, all while wearing a leather jacket. He then started playing Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast” through hidden speakers, using the music and drugs to influence the Jimmies, who began to dance. Kelson’s performance escalated with fire and sparks, all part of a theatrical display intended to convince them he was Satan. Surprisingly, it worked. Afterward, he delivered three messages – clearly dictated by Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal – instructing the group to continue their harmful work, obey Crystal without question, and expand their number of followers.

In a surprising turn of events, Kelson discovers that one of the identical-looking Jimmies is actually Spike, the boy he helped in the first movie. He then announces one last request for the group, shocking Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. Pretending to be Satan, Kelson demands Spike as a sacrifice, but it’s all a trick to protect him. Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal sees through the deception and fatally stabs Kelson, shattering the illusion. This act, however, backfires, giving Jimmy Ink and Spike the courage to fight back. They defeat the other Jimmies and finally overcome Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, crucifying him on an upside-down cross before leaving and reclaiming their true identities – Spike and Kelly – by discarding their platinum blonde wigs.

Finally, with his anger gone, Samson returns to the Bone Temple and finds Dr. Kelson, who is dying. He thanks the doctor for everything and carries his body away, likely to bury him. Meanwhile, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, still stuck on the upside-down cross, has a hallucination that Samson is the devil, and ultimately dies, seemingly frightened to death by the now-healed Alpha in a final, shocking moment.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’s Set Up for the Third Film

The final scene of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple serves as a hint towards a future third film, much like the introduction of the Jimmys in the first movie. After a fade to black, the scene focuses on a peaceful cottage that long-time fans of the original 28 Days Later will instantly recognize. Inside, a young woman is talking to her father about the period following World War II. It’s then revealed that her father is Jim, Cillian Murphy’s character from the first film, establishing her as his daughter with Selena (Naomi Harris doesn’t appear in this scene).

While discussing the aftermath of the war and the surprising decision to rebuild the economies of the defeated Axis powers, the group hears unsettling cries nearby. Stepping outside, they see a group of infected pursuing two figures on a distant hill – Spike and Kelly. When Jim’s daughter asks if they should intervene, he immediately agrees, and the familiar theme music begins as the credits roll.

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2026-01-16 01:19