Who else is doing franchise work at the top level like Ralph Fiennes? I cannot think of another actor who delivers brilliant performance after brilliant performance in films where it was never mandatory to go this hard. With the second part of the 28 Years saga, the titular Bone Temple is the centre stage for one of the most unlikely friendships in horror history, and a fantastic Iron Maiden sequence that will have you grinning from ear to ear.

Following on from the events of the previous film, Spike (Alfie Williams) finds himself in a murderous gang of Jimmy’s, lead by Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell, of Sinners). The gang stalk the land, searching for survivors to terrorise and torture for their own religious purposes. At the same time, Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes, of Conclave) has found that the alpha zombie Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) has shown an interest in his morphine, with interesting scientific consequences.

Last year’s 28 Years Later was a bit of a letdown for me; it was a very understated film that leaned heavily on the buildup for an incredibly anticlimactic ending. It was a film that cared more about emotions than plot and felt very much like a ‘Part One’ movie. With The Bone Temple, there is a sense that the story finally gets going, showing the violence that can occur on this abandoned island. The introduction of the Jimmy’s creates an iconic and memorable set of villains, with the eloquent O’Connell delivering every line in a pseudo-Shakespearean way. 

What sets this second part away form the previous one is Alex Garland’s script. This is a vastly better-written and better-structured movie that flows perfectly as the 109 minutes just fly by. Kelson’s character is much better, giving Fiennes all the tools he needs to flesh out one of his all-time best characters. Every sarcastic line read and drug-fuelled dance sequence is so engaging to watch that you wish the entire movie was Kelson and Samson’s growing relationship. They are the heart of this film, so when it cuts back to the torturing Jimmy’s you just want them to get on with it and move back to what the other guys are doing.

Visually, it’s not as innovative as the first one; the use of a more normal digital camera rather than the iPhone makes for a blander and duller visual style. This isn’t a problem, though, when the film gets going, because the production design of Kelson’s Bone Temple takes on a life of its own in what will be one of the best scenes of the year. A strong case for an all-time use of pre-existing music to propel a scene forward, using an Iron Maiden song to pretend you are satan himself is a brilliant idea, and all the props to Garland and DaCosta for executing it perfectly.

DaCosta was an interesting choice for the director of the second part of Boyle & Garland’s zombie trilogy. She hasn’t had a huge hit in her career before this, with The Marvels being one of the MCU’s biggest flops, and her Candyman reboot not reaching the heights of the original. Her most recent drama, Hedda,was a fun movie with a brilliant first and second acts, but it was certainly not a film that told you how well she would do with this horror franchise entry. The vision of Boyle & Garland to give her the reins was impeccable, and it worked out perfectly in the end. DaCosta created the best entry since the original 28 Days Later, with villains that will live long in my memory, and a setup for a colossal finale to come.