20 Recent Horror Movies WAY Better Than Expected
14. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple was one of 2026's big question marks where horror films are concerned - though last year's previous sequel was well-received by critics, the general audience response was considerably more polarised.
Many felt blindsided by the film's unexpected tonal shifts in its second half and especially its utterly deranged ending, enough that the hype for The Bone Temple was severely impacted.
Couple this with the fact that Danny Boyle wasn't returning to direct The Bone Temple - subbed out for Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) - alongside a so-so marketing campaign, and many expected it to be a lesser entry into the series.
But ultimately The Bone Temple was considered a significant improvement over 28 Years Later by many, with its more consistent tone, lack of gimmicky stylistic tricks, interesting expansions of the wider lore, and superb performances from Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell.
The consensus seems to be that it ranks second behind the original 2002 movie - a frankly shocking outcome considering the sentiment leading up to the sequel's release.
It's just a shame that the mixed word-of-mouth about 28 Years Later appears to have significantly impacted The Bone Temple's box office performance, though hopefully Sony remains committed to closing the series out with the already-announced 28 Years Later Part III.