28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Has One Scene So Disturbing Audiences Are Walking Out: Here’s Why It Matters

Now that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has finally hit theaters (released yesterday, January 16), the verdict is in: Nia DaCosta has delivered the most “unsparing” chapter of the franchise yet. But as fans flock to see the continuation of the Rage Virus saga, reports are already surfacing of viewers fleeing theaters during one specific, stomach-churning sequence.

Director Nia DaCosta knew this was coming. In an interview with IndieWire, she addressed the sequence—now infamously known as the “taking off the shirt” scene—and admitted she was worried about the audience’s breaking point.

“The Impact Has to Be There”

The scene involves a ritualistic skinning at the hands of the “Jimmies,” the cult-like followers of the eccentric but terrifying Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). While the series has always featured gore, The Bone Temple pushes into the realm of psychological and physical torture that even the director found hard to watch.

“The most disgusting part of the movie actually for me is seeing the brain bits in [Samson’s] beard. That one, literally, I’m like, I can’t,” DaCosta revealed.

Regarding the skinning, she admitted to a delicate balancing act in the editing room. She wanted the scene to be impactful without crossing into “gratuitous” territory, yet she acknowledged that the sheer brutality might be too much for some:

“We knew we were really toeing a line… the balance of, OK, maybe one person will walk out of the theater, but we can’t have 10. I don’t want anyone to walk out! I don’t want to hurt people in that way, but the impact has to be there.”

Why the Walkouts are Part of the Vision

In an era of sanitized, “safe” sequels, DaCosta’s refusal to blink is exactly why The Bone Temple is earning critical acclaim alongside the revulsion. She was adamant about being the “master of [her] own destiny” when she took the job, insisting on a vision that didn’t just imitate Danny Boyle’s original but carved its own dark path.

“I cannot, and I will not, thrive, and I’ll not make good work if it’s not me doing exactly what I think is right for me to do,” DaCosta stated.

The walkouts aren’t just about gore; they are a reaction to the film’s “existential and perennial” themes. By making the violence feel this “human” and “torturous,” DaCosta forces the audience to confront the same hopelessness the characters feel.

A Warning to the Faint of Heart

Despite the intensity, DaCosta’s message to those reaching for their coats during the film’s darkest moments is simple: “Don’t do that! It’s great!” She argues that the horror serves a deeper purpose—to highlight the rare flickers of empathy in a world that feels “out of our control.” The film asks if someone who has done the worst things can still be saved. But to get to that answer, you have to survive the Bone Temple first.

If you’re heading to the cinema this weekend, consider this your fair warning: Nia DaCosta wasn’t kidding about the “brain bits.”