Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later—but turning that world on its head—Nia DaCosta directs 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship —with consequences that could change the world as they know it —and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival—the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.

For in-depth thoughts on 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple offers a sumptuous viewing for fans of the franchise. This release continues a trend from Sony of not providing a Blu-Ray copy with the 4K UHD release, so there is not a direct comparison to judge the level of improvement from format to format. With a change of director and cinematographer from the previous installment, this entry does have a slightly different look that keeps things feeling fresh and exciting. The distinct locales are exhibited with a mixture of horror and wonder, a feat which is enhanced with Dolby Vision/HDR to find the intricacies within each setting. The HDR refines every color in a way that cannot be replicated in SDR. Skin tones appear impeccably natural with grotesque detail apparent on faces, including haunting depictions of reanimated corpses in stomach-churning clarity.

With this uptick in resolution, fine detail in the backgrounds, costumes, and other design elements is more abundant than ever. There are unsettling sequences in the film taking place at night or in shadows that are notably distinct and three-dimensional thanks to deep black levels. It is so gratifying to witness the intricacies that could otherwise be swallowed up in darkness. The highlights in the film are also crisply defined with white levels brilliantly balanced with no instances of blooming to be found, even under harsh lighting conditions. This 4K UHD presentation is a showstopper with top marks across the board. Sony knows that physical media fans want the most from their 4K UHD releases, and this one delivers on all fronts.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a Dolby Atmos presentation that is as complex and powerful as the narrative demands. It doesn’t take long for the movie to get particularly kinetic, and the audience is treated to a track that hits hard and leaves you breathless. Sounds are skillfully rendered with pinpoint directionality from an onslaught of thrilling moments to interpersonal exchanges of dialogue. These interactions are presented clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the parallel sonic elements. Environmental details are evenly dispersed in the rear and overhead channels to capture each new worldly horror. The overhead channels take on an overwhelming amount of information, which adds a terrific sense of dimensionality to this nightmare. The score from Hildur Guðnadóttir is an essential part of the film’s mood, and it permeates the room memorably. This is a 5-star sonic experience. Optional English, English SDH, French, Spanish, and an array of other subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Sony has provided 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple with a sleek new SteelBook featuring artwork that is pleasing in person. Photos of the SteelBook can be found at the bottom of this review.

Audio Commentary: Director Nia DaCosta provides an entertaining commentary track in which she discusses the production of the film in depth including the shooting locations, connections to previous installments, the qualities of the performances, interesting facets of the production design, the themes of the story, the makeup effects, and much more that is well worth a listen.
The Doctor and the Devil: A nearly seven-minute overview of the two central figures of the story and how their journeys are brought to life on screen.

New Blood: A six-minute featurette that looks at the introduction of Nia DaCosta to the franchise and what she brought to this second part of this epic story.

Beneath the Rage: A nearly six-minute glimpse at the new developments in this installment that make you take a second look at the infected.

Infected Takes – Bloopers: A nearly three-minute collection of flubbed lines, ruined takes, malfunctioning props, and more.

Deleted Scene: This release includes one unused scene that didn’t make the final cut.

Previews

Final Thoughts

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a visceral complement to its predecessor as it carves out its own identity while fitting neatly into what came before. Nia DaCosta navigates the horror of this experience well with her confident direction, and the ensemble clearly trusts her vision with their unbelievable commitment to every bold turn. Ralph Fiennes is particularly magnetic every time he is on screen, making it difficult to glance away even for a second. This series has clearly not run out of steam in the slightest, so we are completely on board for whatever materializes next. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a first-rate A/V presentation and a valuable assortment of special features. If you are a lover of Sam Raimi, this is not to be missed. Recommended

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook, Blu-Ray, and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.