How low the world has fallen! Those are the words of Paisius the Hagiorite, a phrase that's hauntingly relevant to this sequel.
I went into The Temple of Bones Part 2 with a glimmer of hope that things would turn around for the better, now that Nia DaCosta was at the helm. But, sadly, that hope was short-lived. The series just got worse.
The Temple of Bones Part 2 rapidly strays from the vibe that made 28 Days Later so great, taking a wrong turn that's hard to recover from. The fantastic atmosphere has all but disappeared.
Ruins of citiesSpike, our young protagonist, played by Alfie Williams, is back, but this time he's led the kid into the arms of a Satanic cult. A bunch of kooky cosplayers who all respond to the name Jimmy, with their white-powdered hair and sports jerseys.
At the helm of the Brotherhood of the Fingers is Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, played by Jack O'Connell. He's that kid, the son of a priest, who miraculously survived 28 years ago when the virus-carrying Fury attacked. The gold cross on his chest is all that's left of the boy. Before his infected father led an army of zombies, Jimmy genuinely believed he was the son of the Joker-Devil, lost his mind, and became a gold-toothed killer. Because Jimmy constantly hears his dad's voice in his head.
Jimmy CrystalIt's hard to say exactly when, but a team of psychopaths joined forces with Jimmy. They're a fresh nightmare, worse than zombies. They're not afraid of the infected; they just methodically slaughter and torture any survivors from the British countryside. Under the watchful eye of their leader.
The shameless scumThey're not afraid of the occasional zombie, remember that gruesome fight at the end of the first part? Blood everywhere, and they're still standing. The origin of the series has been completely forgotten, just like the inevitable infection.
Let's face it, the zombie apocalypse and the franchise's whole concept are basically ignored in this game. Where's the action? It's like they've already given up. And don't even get me started on the gory horror episodes that are just a weak imitation of The Martyrs. It's a total mess. Not even close to feeling real.
VictimsThe second storyline revolves around a philanthropist, Dr. Kelson, played by Ray Winstone. A guy who's all about science and saving the world. Sounds familiar, right? I mean, we've seen him in that movie from 2025. The one where he created the Ossuary of Bones. Where zombies and humans found their last refuge.
Dr. Kelson's got a few tricks up his sleeve, like using darts with some kind of serum to temporarily immobilize the infected. And let's not forget about Alfa 'Samson', played by Chael Sonnen, who's especially susceptible to Kelson's magic. It turns out, Kelson just gave Samson some morphine and now he's his 'best friend'. They sit down, have a chat, and Samson's all like, 'Let's talk it out, man.' But the director thought that wasn't enough, so they had to add some extra drama. Because, you know, the end of the world isn't bleak enough already.
Samson and KelsonAnd guess what? Dr. Kelson also discovered a vaccine that can cure the virus. Yeah, it's a total miracle. No labs, no scientists, no years of research needed. It's like the directors of these sequels couldn't care less about the original story.
All the ridiculous plot twists and coincidences lead us to the showdown between Jimmy Crystal and Kelson. It's like the ultimate battle between good and evil, in a philosophical sense. But their conversations? Forget about it. It's like they're speaking different languages. I won't quote it, but trust me, it's cringeworthy.
They met. Wave and stone, poetry and prose, ice and flame. Those are the words of Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin, a quote that's supposed to be profound but feels shallow.
Apparently, this is some profound realization: 'There's no monster scarier than humanity itself.' And, of course, we can find our humanity in monsters. Deep, right? Nia DaCosta, you didn't exactly break new ground there, America.
Taylor's dance show to the Iron Maiden track 'Number of the Beast' is hard to forget. Actor Ralph Fiennes really lets loose. Those are the standout moments in the movie. Plus, his dances with Samson to Duran Duran tracks are a real treat.
Kelson lets looseThe overhyped appearance by Kilian Murphy lasts only about two minutes. His ramblings about the causes of World War II, including the Soviet Union's collapse, are just a bunch of nonsense. It's a classic example of how the Western world distorts history.
The legendary soundtrack 'Don Abandons Alice' from John Murphy of 28 Days Later is like a joke. Using it in the credits for this mediocre movie is just ridiculous. It's like you're trying to pass off a low-budget film as part of an epic franchise. And let's be honest, it's not funny.
The acting is uneven. Most of the characters are one-dimensional. The exceptions are Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell. Both of them are great in their roles: charismatic, authentic, and charming. They bring a level of sophistication to the movie. And Fiennes' piercing blue eyes are just mesmerizing.
The character of Spike takes a backseat. He's no longer the tough survivor we saw in the first movie. He's back to being a scared little kid.SpikeIn theaters, we're shown a bunch of Points of Destination, Astrals, and Curses that have no relation to the original franchises. They're just using the familiar names to draw in crowds. And while 28 Days Later is the official sequel, the experience is the same.
It's better than W.S. Maugham's play Theatre and his quote:
A fake is truth for you. Like margarine is butter for people who've never tried real butter.
The upcoming third installment is a tough sell. How can they possibly mess up a cult classic?
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