Full spoilers: Dr. Ian Kelson and Jimmy Crystal die in the climax. Spike and Jimmy Ink—whose name is Kelly—survive and escape together. Samson also survives, but his treatment does not fully cure him. In the closing scene, Jim and his daughter Sam find Spike and Kelly in danger and move to help them.
What happens at the Bone Temple?
The film is the fourth entry in the 28 Days Later franchise and the second installment in the new trilogy, following directly on from 28 Years Later, according to Sony Pictures. The ending brings its two central threads together: Spike’s forced involvement with Jimmy Crystal’s group and Kelson’s attempts to understand Samson, an infected Alpha.
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| 1 |
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28 Years Later - Blu-ray + Digital | $18.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - Blu-ray + Digital | $20.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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28 Years Later - 4K + Blu-ray + Digital | $22.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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28 Years Later - 4K + Blu-ray + Digital | $38.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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28 Weeks Later [Blu-Ray] | $25.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Spike has been coerced into joining the Jimmies, Crystal’s self-described “fingers,” and takes a Jimmy name. He forms an uneasy bond with Jimmy Ink, later identified as Kelly. Meanwhile, Kelson has found a way to temporarily subdue Samson and has been studying him. Netflix Tudum’s setup makes clear that Kelson’s work is not simply a medical subplot: it tests whether an infected person can retain or recover any humanity.
Kelson tries to protect Spike
When the cult’s journey brings Spike and the Jimmies to the Bone Temple, Kelson recognizes Spike. He tries to shield the boy by appearing to accept the group’s worldview and demanding Spike as a sacrifice. The attempt is a bluff intended to get Spike out of Crystal’s reach, not a genuine conversion.
#1 Best Overall
- Decades after the rage virus outbreak, survivors live in isolation. When one leaves his ruthlessly quarantined island sanctuary, he uncovers haunting secrets and mutations in both the infected and the remaining humans. From director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland comes a bold return to the world of 28 Days Later.
Crystal rejects the deception
Crystal sees through Kelson’s performance and stabs him. The confrontation breaks the cult’s control over the group. Spike and Ink/Kelly fight back, and Crystal is left with Samson. Recaps differ on the exact mechanics of the final blows, so the reliable takeaway is the outcome: Kelson and Crystal die, while Spike and Kelly escape.
Who dies and who survives?
| Character | Ending |
|---|---|
| Dr. Ian Kelson | Dies after trying to protect Spike from Crystal. |
| Jimmy Crystal | Dies during the climactic violence. Accounts vary on the precise final mechanics. |
| Spike | Survives the Bone Temple confrontation and escapes with Kelly. |
| Jimmy Ink / Kelly | Survives and leaves with Spike. |
| Samson | Survives. Kelson’s treatment leaves him permanently changed, but not fully cured. |
| Jim and Sam | Appear alive in the coda and set out to help Spike and Kelly. |
| Selena | The ending does not establish whether she is alive or dead. |
Is Samson cured?
No—not completely. Kelson’s treatment restores some clarity and humanity, but Samson remains infected. Director Nia DaCosta clarified in comments reported by Den of Geek after her Hollywood Reporter debrief that Samson is “not fully cured,” and that the degree to which he has healed is permanent. She added: “He’s not what he was, but is he one of us? I don’t know.”
Rank #2
- Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship - with consequences that could change the world as they know it - and Spike's encounter with Jimmy Crystal 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.
That distinction matters: Samson’s change is lasting, but the film does not present it as a dependable cure that can simply be applied to everyone infected. His condition raises the possibility of a different relationship with the infected without resolving what recovery would mean.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does the final scene mean?
The coda returns to Jim and his daughter Sam. They see Spike and Kelly fleeing infected and choose to help them. Jim’s reappearance reconnects the original film’s story to the new survivors, while his decision offers a moment of solidarity after the cruelty and coercion of Crystal’s group.
Rank #3
- Decades after the rage virus outbreak, survivors live in isolation. When one leaves his ruthlessly quarantined island sanctuary, he uncovers haunting secrets and mutations in both the infected and the remaining humans. From director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland comes a bold return to the world of 28 Days Later.
The ending also contrasts two responses to a collapsed world. Crystal uses religious dogma to command the Jimmies; Kelson tries to preserve a person’s humanity even when that person is infected. DaCosta described the Jimmies as a cult in a TIME interview, saying, “They’re a cult. So there’s a real parallel.” The film’s clash is therefore not only between survivors and infected, but between domination and care.
Jim and Sam’s intervention suggests that Samson’s incomplete recovery could matter beyond Kelson’s work, but that is an implication rather than a confirmed sequel plot. The coda does not reveal Selena’s whereabouts or settle what happens next.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Blu-Ray
Rank #4
- Decades after the rage virus outbreak, survivors live in isolation. When one leaves his ruthlessly quarantined island sanctuary, he uncovers haunting secrets and mutations in both the infected and the remaining humans. From director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland comes a bold return to the world of 28 Days Later.
Which twists matter most?
- Kelson’s apparent alignment with Crystal is an act of protection. He pretends to accept the cult’s beliefs in an attempt to divert Crystal from Spike.
- Samson’s change is not a cure. His improvement is permanent, according to DaCosta’s reported clarification, but he remains fundamentally altered.
- The human faction is a major threat. Spike’s danger comes not only from infected people but from Crystal’s ability to control survivors through fear and belief.
- The original story returns through Jim and Sam. Their arrival links the films without confirming a specific next chapter.
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