28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

I was incredibly hyped to see 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple with my nephew yesterday and, unbelievably, it lived up to my expectations!  After leaving the relative security of the island, Spike (Alfie Williams) is coerced into joining a Satanic gang led by the charismatic, but psychotic, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) as they terrorize the survivors they encounter.  Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) continues memorializing victims of those infected by the rage virus in his ossuary known as the Bone Temple.  When Kelson encounters the Alpha leader of the infected, who he has nicknamed Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) for his strength, he sedates him with a morphine dart from a blowgun which makes him docile enough to interact with.  Samson becomes addicted to the morphine and their growing connection allows Kelson to study him and realize that the rage virus might be cured.  He administers anti-psychotics to him but this experiment is interrupted when Kelly (Erin Kellyman), a member of Jimmy's gang, observes Kelson and mistakenly believes that he is Satan.  In order to keep control, Jimmy threatens Kelson into portraying Satan for his gang which results in an epic confrontation between the two of them.  This installment in the franchise is wild, chaotic, and incredibly gory (which is what I was expecting from the more meditative 28 Years Later) but it is also surprisingly emotional.  I loved the unusual friendship that develops between Kelson and Samson and I was particularly struck by the juxtaposition between Jimmy's psychosis and Samson's because this brilliantly expands on the theme that humanity is capable of savagery even without the virus.  Fiennes gives an absolutely fearless performance and one scene in particular (accompanied by Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast") must be seen on the big screen (trust me on this).  O'Connell is also an incredibly compelling villain and his scenes with Fiennes crackle with energy.  I loved this and I am now even more excited for the next movie in the trilogy!

Note:  The needle drops are fantastic!  In addition to his use of the aforementioned song by Iron Maiden, Kelson seems to be a big fan of Duran Duran!