After Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his gang of ‘fingers’ save Spike (Alfie Williams) they induct him into their fold and make his life a nightmare. Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) meanwhile continues his research into the alpha Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) and his findings could change things for everyone. 

When we left Spike in the previous entry in the series he had just been saved by the athletic Power Ranger / Teletubbies crossover ‘Jimmy’ gang led by the peculiar Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. We had previously seen Jimmy’s first interaction with the rage virus in the opening of that film where he watched Teletubbies with his sisters before disaster struck. Here we get to learn more about him and see the terrifyingly grotesque way that he lives. He leads his ‘fingers’ as the head of a cult which he runs with a merciless fist. Believing himself to be the son of the devil he intends on inflicting his own version of mercy on all survivors of the virus.

Dr. Kelson meanwhile is continuing his solitary existence where he open mindedly continues to observe and relate to what has happened to the human population. His attentions turn more and more to Samson. The giant and terrifying alpha whom he immobilizes with a morphine dart if he ever threatens him. We see his quiet way of life where he listens to records whilst recording his findings.

These two ways of life will eventually crash into each other and just like the previous film make a very conscious effort to explore a subtext that is comparable to our world. Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal very clearly rejects science and leads by his cult of personality. Whilst Dr. Kelson is a man of science who openly considers everyone’s perspective and is reaching for the truth in as ethical way as he can. Perhaps in this film this is far less subtext than in the previous outing but it is still a really enjoyable layer to a superb story. 

The most fundamental difference in this story though is that as with many horror movies this one focuses more fundamentally on the evil that lays within man. That means that whilst still terrifying, the horror and gore takes on a much more worrying undertone because here those people conducting the violence are thinking cognisant human beings.

In terms of the performances it is arguably even better than the previous film as well. In my review of the previous film I said that Ralph Fiennes provided perhaps the most memorable performance providing something special amongst the chaos. Here, to quote a friend and colleague he “gives a stonking performance”. He is simply brilliant. A calm and measured man in amongst the chaos and evil around him, but still one with flaws and weaknesses. His personal moments with the music he listens to that keep him going in this broken world are particularly special and there is one scene that will likely become one of the most talked about this year. It is very special.

Around Fiennes brilliance we have Alfie Williams and Jack O’Connell. Williams who is now only fifteen years old is brilliant again in his portrayal this time of a child lost amongst evil. O’Connell who we only briefly saw in the previous film manages to create a character who is both monumentally evil but also who is occasionally just sympathetically lost in this nightmare world he finds himself in.

Nia DaCosta, who took over the Directing reigns for this film from Danny Boyle was an inspired choice and my enthusiasm to see Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland come back together to finish the story is at an all time high.

Last year’s 28 Years Later was a superb return to the story of the “rage virus” and garnered seventh place in my film of the year list. It is fair to say that whilst very early in the year “The Bone Temple” is a front runner to make a high appearance in my films of 2026. It manages to continue upon the story laid down in the previous film, expand and deepen those characters, terrify in a different type of way to the previous films and leave you incredibly excited for the planned trilogy closing film. All in all it is a wonderful achievement. 

Unequivocally recommended.