28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Plot Summary

Initiation and Violence

A gang of fighters known as the Fingers operates in post-apocalyptic Britain, led by a zealous Satanist who calls himself “Sir Lord” Jimmy Crystal. The group rescues a young boy named Spike from danger but forces him to participate in a death match against another member called Jimmy Shite as an initiation ritual. Spike kills Jimmy Shite, securing his place in the gang. Sir Jimmy renames the boy “Jimmy” to match the other Fingers, all of whom share variations of the same name. The group includes Jimmy Ink, who demonstrates more empathy than the others, and Jimmima, whose sadistic tendencies make her particularly dangerous.

The Bone Temple Project

Dr. Ian Kelson works alone at the Bone Temple, an ossuary he is constructing to house the remains of those killed during the rage virus epidemic that devastated Britain years earlier. His solitary work is regularly interrupted by visits from Samson, an Alpha Infected—a particularly powerful and intelligent variant of the rage-infected.

During these encounters, Kelson has been using a blowgun to sedate Samson with morphine. Over time, Kelson observes that Samson appears to be deliberately allowing himself to be drugged, suggesting addiction to the sedative. More significantly, Samson has stopped attacking Kelson entirely. The two develop an unusual friendship as signs of Samson’s original humanity begin resurfacing through the infection.

Kelson’s sedative supplies run low, forcing him to consider euthanizing Samson as a mercy. However, before implementing this plan, Kelson witnesses something extraordinary: Samson articulates the word “moon,” demonstrating that some degree of language and cognition can return to the infected. This discovery suggests the rage virus might be treatable, revolutionizing Kelson’s understanding of the infection.

The Farm Raid

The Fingers raid a farm inhabited by survivors, including Tom and his pregnant partner Cathy. Sir Jimmy dispatches Jimmy Ink to scout the surrounding area. During her reconnaissance, Ink catches sight of the Bone Temple and observes both Samson and Dr. Kelson, whose skin appears covered in an unusual reddish substance—actually iodine solution worn as protection against the virus.

Inside the farm’s barn, Sir Jimmy orders the Fingers to skin their captured survivors alive as sacrifices to “Old Nick.” He claims Satan is his father and communicates with him directly, using religious terror to maintain control over the gang. Cathy hides during the carnage, avoiding capture.

Spike becomes sickened by the brutality and goes outside. Jimmy Ink, who has returned from scouting and is growing increasingly disillusioned with Sir Jimmy’s leadership, takes pity on the traumatized boy.

Sir Jimmy offers Tom an opportunity to join the Fingers if he can defeat a gang member in a death match. Tom accepts and faces Jimmima, but is quickly outmatched. Cathy breaks her concealment to kill Jimmima, saving Tom. Tom sets the barn ablaze using a gas tank, killing a Finger named Jimmy Jimmy and burning several others before dying himself in the inferno.

Sir Jimmy orders Spike to capture Cathy. However, Spike is so traumatized by the violence he has witnessed and participated in that he begs Cathy to take him with her instead. Cathy incapacitates Spike and escapes alone.

Crisis and Deception

The failed raid leaves the Fingers with reduced numbers and damaged morale. Sir Jimmy threatens to execute Spike for failing to capture Cathy. Jimmy Ink intervenes with a suggestion: they should visit Kelson, whom she believes is actually Old Nick based on his reddened skin from iodine solution and his interactions with the “demon” Samson. She proposes letting this figure decide Spike’s fate.

Sir Jimmy leads the gang to the Bone Temple and meets Kelson privately. Upon discovering Kelson is merely a human scientist rather than Satan, Sir Jimmy threatens to kill him unless Kelson agrees to impersonate the devil and publicly validate Sir Jimmy’s claimed divine leadership over the Fingers.

The following morning, Spike attempts to leave the gang’s camp. Jimmy Fox confronts him, seeking revenge for Jimmy Shite’s death. Before Fox can kill Spike, Jimmy Ink intervenes and kills Fox herself. She brings Spike back to camp, lying to Sir Jimmy by claiming Fox fled out of fear of Satan and she was forced to kill him in self-defense.

Experimental Treatment

Kelson fears Sir Jimmy’s interference will terminate his research on Samson prematurely. In a rushed attempt to grant Samson peace and possibly cure him, Kelson administers a cocktail of antipsychotics and other medications. His hypothesis suggests the rage virus causes aggression indirectly through psychotic hallucinations rather than direct behavioral control.

The treatment grants Samson temporary clarity. He visits an abandoned train where his original infection occurred and experiences a hallucination of a childhood memory—a conductor requesting his ticket. After regaining the ability to articulate speech, Samson encounters a pack of infected who react to him as if he were uninfected, suggesting the treatment has fundamentally altered how the virus manifests in his body.

The Performance

That night, Kelson complies with Sir Jimmy’s demands by impersonating Satan in an elaborate performance. He stages a pyrotechnic-filled presentation while the gang is exposed to hallucinogenic substances. Upon recognizing Spike among the Fingers, Kelson betrays Sir Jimmy by ordering the gang to crucify their leader.

As Jimmy Ink turns against him, Sir Jimmy fatally stabs Kelson in desperation. The betrayal triggers chaos within the gang. Ink is forced to fight and kill Jimmy Snake and Jimmy Jones to protect herself and Spike.

Spike stabs Sir Jimmy in the side as Kelson dies from his wounds. Spike comforts the dying scientist while Ink crucifies Sir Jimmy on an inverted cross as poetic justice for his false Satanism.

Departures

Spike and Ink—who reveals her real name is Kellie—leave the Bone Temple together, heading into the wilderness to escape the gang’s remnants. Samson arrives at the scene and is mistaken for Satan by the dying Sir Jimmy. Samson greets Kelson by name and thanks him for the treatment before the scientist succumbs to his wounds. Samson carries Kelson’s body away from the temple. An unseen figure attacks the crucified Sir Jimmy.

New Hope

Some time later, Spike and Kellie are fleeing from a group of infected. Unaware they are being observed, they run through dangerous territory. Their escape is monitored by Jim and his teenage daughter Sam, who have been conducting a history lesson about postwar Europe. Recognizing the children are in danger, Jim and Sam break off their lesson to provide aid.