'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' turns franchise inside out with moral flip

The legendary horror franchise “28 Days Later” returns with a bold and disturbing new chapter that challenges the traditional boundaries of the postapocalyptic genre. Directed by Nia DaCosta, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is a direct sequel to last year’s “28 Years Later,” directed by Danny Boyle. The story follows a young boy named Spike (Alfie Williams), who is captured by a sadistic cult led by the delusional Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). While Spike struggles to survive a series of brutal gladiatorial games in an abandoned water park, the narrative shifts to the isolated bunker of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). Kelson has dedicated his life to studying the infected from within a massive monument built of human remains. While the opening act may feel chaotic or confusing to some, the film eventually rewards patient viewers with a deeply layered and philosophical experience that flips the script on what it means to be a monster. The most striking element of the fourth installment of the franchise is the thematic exchange between humans and the infected. In a brill