Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland are bringing back the zombie franchise they initiated in 2002 with “28 Days Later” through “28 Years Later,” while also crafting a spinoff trilogy focused on the family featured in their latest thriller. However, the film’s finale unveils that family stretches beyond mere biological connections.
If you have viewed “28 Years Later” and are intrigued by its conclusion and the implications for the sequel, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” we are here to assist.
We will delve into the subtle details of the “28 Years Later” ending, including spoilers and perspectives from Mashable’s Say More’s chat with Danny Boyle.
Let’s address the primary question:
Who is Jimmy in “28 Years Later”?
Jimmy is the child from the film’s brutal opening. Amid the initial Rage Virus outbreak, a group of blonde youngsters watches “Teletubbies” on TV while chaos reigns outside. He is the sole survivor. After being attacked, his mother urges him to flee. He finds shelter in a church where a pastor, whom he refers to as “Dad,” tells him it’s God’s will and gifts him a golden crucifix necklace. The infected then assault the pastor, but Jimmy conceals himself, gripping the necklace and pondering why his father has abandoned him.
The narrative then transitions to “28 years later,” and you may speculate whether Spike’s dad is the boy from the outset. However, his name is Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).
By the conclusion of “28 Years Later,” 12-year-old Spike finds himself alone, akin to Jimmy’s earlier plight. When Spike requires assistance, he encounters Jimmy, who introduces himself. The film centers around this Jimmy (played by Jack O’Connell), characterized by his blonde hair and the golden crucifix, implying he is the boy from the prologue, now a figure of authority adorned with gold accessories and a headpiece.
What else can we discern from this sequence?
Jimmy is a perilous cult leader.
The first indication is his followers, who emulate him with long blonde hair and velour tracksuits. In the credits, they are all referred to as Jimmy: Jimmy Ink, Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Snake, Jimmy Shite, and Jimmy Fox. This signifies Jimmy’s importance in the film and its sequel, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” as even the characters from the opening scene are linked to him in the credits.
Jimmy’s name recurs throughout Spike’s adventure. Inside an abandoned house, an infected individual is suspended upside down with the name “JIMMY” etched into his flesh. Subsequently, Spike and his mother encounter graffiti that includes Jimmy’s name, signifying his influence on the mainland and the defiance of his cult against his father’s faith.
Jimmy displays his crucifix inverted, a symbol sometimes linked to Satanism, and the corpse with his name was similarly suspended. In the final confrontation, one of the Jimmys leaves an infected person hanging in a similar manner, hinting that Jimmy’s dominion is anything but virtuous.
What do the Teletubbies represent in “28 Years Later”?
The well-known British children’s series appears in the film’s introductory scenes, situating the narrative in 2002 when the Rage Virus commenced. The contrasting violent visuals with the cheerful series might amuse Boyle and Garland. Yet, the Teletubbies hold a deeper significance.
In the finale, adult Jimmy dons a tracksuit that seems black but actually shines purple under sunlight. His fellow Jimmys sport similar attire in red, yellow, and green, reflecting the Teletubbies’ hues. Jimmy has memorialized his youthful trauma, forming a new family with his own Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po, and an unknown blue Jimmy.
The soundtrack by Young Fathers pays tribute to the Teletubbies with a hard rock rendition of the show’s theme song during the Jimmys’ confrontation with the infected. This cinematic moment serves as a callback, as the original theme song initiates “28 Years Later,” creating a cyclical connection akin to the Teletubbies’ show. This reiteration manifests in the film’s montage sequences, condensing British war history to illustrate the unending cycle of history.
What does Jimmy signify for “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”?
This sequel, directed by Nia DaCosta and scripted by Garland, is slated for release next year. The title implies a potential focus on Dr. Kelson, who constructed bone structures as memento mori. However, the proximity of Kelson’s and Jimmy’s domains hints at a possible conflict between these young Spike allies.
In an interview with Mashable’s Say More, Boyle referenced Garland’s concept for the trilogy: the first film revolves around family, while the second focuses on evil.
This indicates Spike’s journey will become even more brutal. He encounters a man who was once a boy like him, yet Jimmy seems trapped in childhood trauma, assembling a family reminiscent of a “Clockwork Orange” group, reveling in violence as if it were play. Spike may not be in secure hands.