The Devil’s in the Details: How 28 Years Later Turns Old Nick Into More Than Just Satan

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Please be aware that the following discusses key plot points from 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. The film uses imagery and the idea of the devil, referred to as “Old Nick,” to highlight its main message about morality. As the second sequel to 28 Days Later, The Bone Temple centers the story more on Dr. Kelson and his counterpart, Sir Jimmy Crystal.

Okay, so as a horror fan, I have thoughts on these two characters. Crystal is just awful – she’s a huge supporter of Old Nick and honestly one of the most irritating people in the whole series. But Kelson? He’s surprisingly sympathetic. I mean, yeah, his first scene is intense – skinning bodies to make these creepy memorials – but he’s got this underlying nobility. What I really love is how the film ties everything back to ‘Old Nick’ through both their stories; it’s a really strong thematic element that pulls the whole thing together.

The Role Of “Old Nick” In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

As a big fan of The Bone Temple, I’ve always been fascinated by “Old Nick.” It’s a central idea in the whole film, really driving Sir Jimmy Crystal and his Fingers’ actions. It’s more than just plot, though – it really highlights the film’s themes about empathy and what it means to be human. Basically, Jimmy believes the Rage Virus isn’t a scientific thing at all, but actual demons breaking free, and that stems from stories his father used to tell him during the outbreak.

Jimmy’s belief in the supernatural is made stronger by his faith in Satan, and he thinks his father was influenced by the devil during the outbreak of the Rage Virus. This belief is a key reason Jimmy rationalizes his terrible deeds, and it also allows him to feel superior to his followers, as he sees himself as the son of Satan.

Old Nick isn’t simply a reflection of Jimmy’s beliefs; he becomes a key element in The Bone Temple, particularly when highlighting the differences between Jimmy and Kelson. Jimmy presents himself as important, often talking at length about religion, while Kelson is quiet, thoughtful, and doesn’t believe in God.

There’s this one conversation in the film that really struck me – it’s surprisingly calm, a quiet moment where both characters get to reminisce about the past, about life before everything went crazy. But for Jimmy, the other guy, he sees this person as embodying everything that’s wrong with the UK after the outbreak – a symbol of all the chaos and destruction.

Jimmy believes the world is so broken it needs to be completely destroyed, and he actively tries to inflict that destruction on everyone he meets – a disturbingly cheerful violence that makes him more frightening than the infected creatures themselves. Kelson, on the other hand, has a very straightforward, no-nonsense outlook on life and what happens after death.

Kelson is a deeply compassionate person, able to connect with others, as seen in his relationships with Spike and his mother from the previous movie. He even manages to bring out the good side of Jimmy, even if just for a little while. This is quite different from how he first appears – initially, people only see him as a frightening figure from a distance.

It’s strange, but even with everything the Rage Virus has done, seeing anything that reminds me of Stan feels…almost normal. I never would have thought about the possibility of Stan being connected to the virus at all. What really hits me, though, is that I don’t see the infected as monsters. Not Jimmy, not anyone. Kelson – and I think the story wants us to see this too – just sees people, even when they’re changed by the virus.

Why Jimmy’s Final Vision Is So Important To Bone Temple

The story of Old Nick reaches its peak in the final scenes of Bone Temple. Facing a threat to his life from Jimmy, Kelson pretends to be Satan, hoping to trick Jimmy’s followers into complete devotion. Letting Jimmy go free, allowing him to kill more people, might be the only truly selfish thing Kelson does throughout the two movies.

Even after making a plan, Kelson ultimately can’t follow through with it, abandoning it to save Spike, which seals his fate. This act demonstrates his humanity and heroism, especially considering the series’ focus on the darkness within people – with or without the influence of the Rage Virus.

It all builds to a really touching end. Kelson spends his last moments with Spike, and then Samson shows up with incredible news – the cure Kelson developed actually worked! It’s amazing because Kelson never stopped believing in people, even when they seemed lost. He didn’t see monsters, and that’s how he figured out how to fight the virus. Honestly, through his kindness and belief in others, he managed to bring Samson back from the brink – he literally pulled the darkness out of him. It was such a powerful moment!

Despite his tough talk and showy behavior, Jimmy Crystal is ultimately a deeply wounded person driven by anger and fear. Even in his last moments, when facing the consequences of his actions at the hands of someone who once admired him, he cries out for his mother. He isn’t a supernatural villain intent on destruction; he’s simply afraid.

Samson’s arrival highlights this contrast. He appears to Kelson as a healed friend, offering him comfort in his last moments. However, Jimmy experiences a terrifying hallucination, seeing Samson as the Devil. When “his father” comes for Kelson, Jimmy is devastated to be left behind, knowing the infected will soon find him.

How we see ourselves and others greatly influences our behavior. The Rage Virus doesn’t just cause anger; it creates a mental state where the world seems terrifying, which explains the violent reactions. Jimmy, deeply affected by his father’s final words, developed a dangerous belief system centered around killing.

Both characters use “Old Nick” as an excuse for their behavior, seeing it as a force that makes them act aggressively. However, Kelson is different – despite his frightening appearance, he’s actually one of the most ethical characters in the story. “Old Nick” isn’t simply a convenient plot element in The Bone Temple; it’s a significant factor in the characters’ motivations.

The idea of “Old Nick” empowers Jimmy and others to justify killing innocent people. It allows them to view others as simply targets, much like the infected do. However, Kelson argues against this, even while singing Iron Maiden. The story 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple suggests that human goodness can still prevail, overcoming the negative influence of “Old Nick.”

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2026-01-20 04:33