horror films – Trekking with Dennis

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – Film Review

The first part of this review is free from major story spoilers. The end of the spoiler-free section is clearly marked.

Last year, I reviewed 28 Years Later – the long-awaited sequel to one of my favourite zombie horror films of all-time. I knew then that a second film was underway, but I’ve since learned that 28 Years Later was intended to be a trilogy. That explains a lot, and I’m glad I knew that *before* I sat down to watch what is apparently intended to be the middle instalment of this story!

I said last time that 28 Years Later felt less scary, less impactful, and just less entertaining overall than I’d hoped or expected it would be… but that there was still the potential for its sequel to re-frame some of those story beats, or pull out a creditable ending to the story. It was with that mindset that I approached The Bone Temple. I wanted this film to thrill me, but the way I felt about last year’s instalment was certainly a cause for concern.

If you missed my review of 28 Years Later in 2025, click or tap here to check it out. I think it’ll add a bit of context to a few of the things we’re going to discuss today.

Three posters for 28 Years Later The Bone Temple — A trio of promotional posters.

One thing that I don’t think I explained very well last time was how 28 Years Later’s zombies – surely the most important part of any zombie movie – felt like they’d lost at least *some* of their fear factor. And that trend seems to have continued this time, unfortunately.

In 2002, 28 Days Later breathed new life into a horror sub-genre that had started to feel stale. Making zombies faster and more aggressive, and the virus that caused the outbreak, were a huge part of that. I can vividly remember watching 28 Days Later for the first time, practically wetting my pants at how utterly terrifying these infected monsters were, how they moved with such pace, and how they were so unlike anything I’d seen before.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what had changed at first, when I watched 28 Years Later. Was it simply the passage of time, and the way Danny Boyle’s fast-moving “infected” have been rolled into the broader lore of zombie fiction? Probably to an extent. Was it because the zombie genre has been pretty oversaturated for pushing twenty years, with The Walking Dead and its spin-offs on TV, films like Zombieland and Train to Busan, and interactive titles from The Last Of Us to Dying Light? Again… to an extent, yeah.

Still frame from Train to Busan showing zombies — Other zombie films, like *Train to Busan*, have done similar things to *28 Days Later* in the years since that film’s release.

But there’s one more factor that, last time, I don’t think I really appreciated:

In 28 Years Later, and in The Bone Temple, too, many of the zombies are naked.

Naked zombies… they end up looking more *comical* than frightening, I’m afraid. And I really do believe that this costuming choice – or lack of costuming, to be specific – is a major contributing factor to these zombies not having the impact they once did. And yeah, it makes sense in-universe – almost three decades on from the apocalypse, surviving zombies have lost their clothes due to exposure to the elements. But… making sense doesn’t actually help make these zombies as scary as they need to be. And while I respect the decision to put realism first, it came at one heck of a price.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Samson feeding — Samson and his (mostly) nude friends.

This highlights one of the dangers of filming back-to-back. I can’t be the only one to comment on the zombies and their… nudity… so if that feedback had been available to Nia DaCosta, Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, and the rest of the team, maybe some changes could’ve been made before The Bone Temple entered full production? I’m not saying that was the film’s only issue – nor am I saying that 28 Years Later or The Bone Temple were out-and-out “bad” – but sometimes, being able to receive and act on feedback in between titles is a positive thing. And unfortunately, producing two films back-to-back leaves no room for manoeuvre in that sense.

There’s another point to consider, though, and it’s one that’s much more fundamental than whether or not zombies need clothes!

28 Days Later was unapologetically a horror film – in fact, I’d call it one of the scariest films I’ve ever seen. 28 Weeks Later retained that horror tone, though it introduced other themes. But both 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple aren’t really horror films… at least, not in the same way. There’s torturous gore, there’s literal Satan worship, and, of course, there are still zombies… but at their core, these films feel much more character-driven, much more exploratory, and much more personal. Perhaps they fall closer to “psychological horror,” at least in parts, as well as films that explore the post-apocalyptic world that their predecessors created.

Cropped poster for 28 Years Later The Bone Temple — Crop of the film’s promo poster.

That disconnect between the genre of film I was expecting to see and the kind of film I ultimately saw… maybe that’s what’s driving some of my disappointment with The Bone Temple? And perhaps I should make a conscious effort to appreciate the film for what it is rather than what I expected or wanted it to be?

The counterpoint to that, I suppose, is that, if Alex Garland, Danny Boyle, and director Nia DaCosta wanted to create a post-apocalyptic psychological thriller, exploring things like coming of age, mental illness, trauma, religion and religious extremism, and the nature of life and death… maybe they shouldn’t have called it “28 Years Later.” These films were consciously created as sequels, picking up the post-apocalyptic setting almost three decades later. Yet the kinds of stories that have been told in that setting don’t feel like they bear much resemblance to what came before. And as we look to the future and a potential third instalment – which, rumours suggest, may have dipped into the dreaded development hell – I can’t help but wonder what could lie in store.

Behind-the-scenes photo from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple — Director Nia DaCosta (left) with Jack O’Connell on set.

There were some interesting and creative choices made across The Bone Temple, with close-up, shaky, focused camera shots lingering on characters to hammer home feelings of fear and confusion. In some ways, these felt like they were lifted from a low-budget, experimental, almost “arthouse horror” project – if that makes sense. I could feel the creative team’s intentions – and see, perhaps, where they lifted some of these ideas from. It could feel intense, yes, but that intensity served a purpose for the most part, and carried some of these heavy themes.

I think I’ve said all I can without crossing the line into narrative spoilers.

If you want to know whether or not I recommend The Bone Temple, here’s what I’ll say. If you enjoyed 28 Years Later, this film is the natural next step, and I think you’ll find it interesting, at the very least. If you were a fan of 28 Days Later a while back, and you didn’t really gel with the changes made in 28 Years Later last year… then The Bone Temple doesn’t redeem it, nor undo those changes. If you want an interesting and occasionally thought-provoking picture with themes of mental health, religion, and trauma, The Bone Temple might be your jam. But if you want a terrifying zombie flick that’s gonna keep you awake at night? This ain’t it.

This is the end of the spoiler-free section. There are major narrative spoilers for the 28 Days Later saga – including The Bone Temple – from here on out.

I said last time that I hoped The Bone Temple would find a way to narratively justify the “Jimmies;” the gang of Jimmy Savile impersonators who showed up right at the end of 28 Years Later. I was worried that this choice was made purely for shock value rather than because the creative team actually had something to say… and I feel like I was, unfortunately, right about that.

Jimmy Savile was one of the worst criminals in the history of this country, and it’s appalling that he was able to get away with it, with his crimes only being uncovered after his death. Any film that chooses to lean into any aspect of Savile really has to justify why it wants to do so, why it needs to bring up those memories and what it wants to say about his offending and the establishment that covered it up. And for me, The Bone Temple really didn’t have much to say about any of that.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing the Jimmy gang — The Jimmies.

Was it ironic, in a sickening sort of way, that the leader of the Jimmies was a literal Satan-worshipper? I mean, sure, I guess. But Satanism is a pretty basic horror trope, and in a story that doesn’t lean on the supernatural very much, it almost feels out of place. I get it: this is a commentary on the nature of trauma, and especially how traumatic events in childhood – and a lack of support – can shape a person’s mental health and their outlook on life. Jimmy was a young boy when the rage virus outbreak occurred, and his inability to process that trauma – combined with having to scrounge for survival in a post-apocalyptic world – contributed to his mental illness. At least, that’s how I think we’re meant to read the character.

And there is something to be said about how folks who experienced traumatic events in childhood can reach for something that feels safe – a character, a TV series, a celebrity. Jimmy clearly did that, not only with Jimmy Savile, but also with the Teletubbies, a kids’ TV show that was referenced a couple of times in the film. Because 28 Days Later establishes that the viral outbreak happened circa 2002, Savile’s crimes would never have come to light in this world. Again, that makes sense narratively.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Jimmy — Sir Lord Jimmy.

But, as with the naked zombies, it isn’t enough for something to be logical in the confines of its world – it has to have meaning to us as the audience. And yes, it’s profoundly ironic that someone would consider Jimmy Savile, of all people, a heroic figure, someone “safe,” or anything like that. And it’s a weird kind of critique, I guess, of Savile’s own offending. But does that explain and justify this presentation? Because it feels, to me, like the point was to shock, the point was to be as offensive as possible. Being offensive has decades of precedent in horror – from the rape in Rosemary’s Baby to the gore of The Human Centipede. But when it’s done purely to offend, purely to shock, and without any real narrative justification, nor for any real reason… it feels gratuitous. And that’s how the Jimmies felt to me: gratuitous.

28 Years Later focused on young Spike, and his journey as he left his safe home for the first time to venture into the fallen world beyond. It wasn’t unreasonable to expect that The Bone Temple would pick up Spike’s story – and it did, for a few minutes at the beginning, but Spike felt sidelined a lot of the time; less a driving force behind events than someone swept along in the wake of other characters. We got a few moments from Spike’s perspective as he tried to escape from the gang, but the film largely had its focus elsewhere.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Spike — *28 Years Later* had been Spike’s story. *The Bone Temple* was not.

The Bone Temple draws on 28 Days Later’s introduction of the rage virus, which began in an animal testing lab, suggesting that there’s a psychological component to the infection. This story, told from the perspective of Dr Kelson, was perhaps the film’s strongest element – even if I wouldn’t have expected it to be at first! We gradually saw Dr Kelson dosing Samson – the “alpha” infected – with morphine, stripping away some of the most extreme effects of the infection.

This culminated in Dr Kelson’s research into anti-psychotic drugs, which he gave to Samson, finally allowing his mind to break free of at least part of the infection for a time. As an analogy for mental illness and mental health conditions, this is interesting. I myself manage a mental health condition with medication, and I don’t object to the way Dr Kelson and Samson were presented in The Bone Temple. If anything, I find it interesting that, of all things, a zombie film would draw this kind of comparison or create this kind of metaphor for mental health. It’s something that has to be handled with care; there’s a fine line between saying “we’ll explore themes of mental health” and inadvertently leaning into harmful tropes and tired old clichés. But speaking for myself, I think The Bone Temple broadly stayed on the right side of that line.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Kelson — Dr Kelson, researching anti-psychotic drugs.

The Bone Temple underperformed at the box office, and may make either a small loss or barely break even, depending on exact figures after video-on-demand and streaming are accounted for. Because of that, it’s recently been suggested that plans for a sequel are no longer certain. With this being part two of three, ending on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and with themes and storylines unresolved… that would be a real shame. Particularly when it comes to Dr Kelson’s apparent breakthrough in terms of understanding the rage virus, and the interesting real-world parallels it draws on, I think a conclusion is pretty important. But them’s the breaks in the entertainment industry, sometimes.

I’d like to pick out a couple of performances that I felt were particularly strong in The Bone Temple.

First, we have Erin Kellyman, who played one of the Jimmies – later revealing that her character’s name was Kellie. Kellyman, who I’d seen before in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story, put in a really great performance as the conflicted member of the gang, simultaneously believing Jimmy’s claims about “Old Nick,” and remaining sceptical.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Jimmy Ink — Kellie – a.k.a. Jimmy Ink.

Then we have Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes may be known to some of you as Voldemort, though he’s a prolific actor who’s played a lot of other roles, including in 2024’s Conclave. I found his take on Dr Kelson to be incredible – nuanced, interesting, and with flashes of history and emotion that kept a genuinely odd character feeling human and grounded. Fiennes captured Dr Kelson’s eccentricities perfectly, but also his humanity, too. The sequence where he sat and talked with Jimmy was definitely one of the highlights of the whole film.

And, of course, we can’t mention Ralph Fiennes and Dr Kelson without talking about *that* iconic Iron Maiden sequence! I went through a heavy metal phase as a teen, and I got really into bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. The Number of the Beast is a classic, really leaning into the idea that heavy metal was, well, “the devil’s music,” and I felt this sequence in The Bone Temple really captured that ’80s heavy metal feel. Ralph Fiennes was absolutely exceptional through it all, and the music made the whole sequence feel otherworldly and intense in the best way possible.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Kelson's performance — Dr Kelson’s Iron Maiden sequence was incredible.

One thing that The Bone Temple did quite well was convey how brutal the post-apocalypse can be. We saw a few different groups and individuals, some of whom were hunters, foragers, or scavengers – but all struggling to survive. The Jimmies are kind of the embodiment of the chaos of survival in this kind of environment: lawless, brutally violent, incredibly aggressive, and dominated by the strong will of a single leader. That isn’t a unique concept; many post-apocalyptic stories feature similar gangs, from The Walking Dead’s Saviors to Fallout’s Legion. But that side of it was well-executed here.

There was an interesting contrast between how the people at the farm lived with how the Jimmies and Dr Kelson lived. The farm group – and, at the very end, Jim and his daughter, too – seemed determined to reclaim at least some elements of pre-apocalypse life, with a well-kept home, fences, padlocks, and hot food cooked in a kitchen. The contrast this presented was stark, and it shows the difference between how different groups might respond to this kind of total societal collapse. In the absence of Spike’s hometown and the folks he had to leave behind in the previous instalment, these characters stood in for the – for want of a better term – more “normal” denizens of post-apocalyptic Britain.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing the farm — The farm.

I mentioned Jim, so let’s talk about the film’s closing sequence. Jim was the protagonist of 28 Days Later, and it was great to welcome back Cillian Murphy to the role – albeit that Jim didn’t get a ton of screen time this time around. A zombie glimpsed in 28 Years Later bore a striking resemblance to Jim, and I wasn’t alone in speculating that the zombie’s appearance might’ve been the film’s way of conveying that Jim had finally been defeated by the rage virus. I’m glad to see that wasn’t the case!

Jim having a daughter certainly seems to imply that he and Selena continued their relationship beyond the events of the first film. I wonder if Selena is planned to be a major character if the next instalment were to get off the ground? I liked seeing Jim apparently quite settled, doing what he could to preserve a sense of pre-apocalypse normalcy for his daughter. Their appearances raise a lot of questions; I just hope that answers will, one day, arrive.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Jim and his daughter — Jim and his daughter.

As Samson’s cocktail of drugs helped him come around from his years-long infection, we got an interesting flashback-come-coma-dream sequence of him on a train. This was especially creative, I felt, showing how memories were slowly coming to the surface. It led into one of the film’s only real jump-scares, as the conductor’s face seemed to morph into that of an infected zombie. That was probably the only moment in the film that I could say genuinely caught me off-guard.

Again, though, Samson’s story ends with unanswered questions. Without access to more drugs – both morphine and antipsychotics – will he remain free of the virus and in control of his faculties? Was his status as an “alpha” infected part of what made him susceptible to treatment? With Dr Kelson dead, is there *anyone* left in the area who could carry on his work – or even understand it? All of these points should be addressed… but only if a sequel is forthcoming, which, as mentioned, may no longer be guaranteed.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Samson — Samson on the train.

How do we feel about Satanism as a plot point? I get where it was coming from, and I think Jack O’Connell made for a really interesting and complex antagonist. There were points where I genuinely couldn’t tell whether he believed in “Old Nick” for certain, whether he was wavering in his belief, or even if he’d been faking some of it to maintain control over his gang. That kind of presentation is not easy to get right, and O’Connell deserves a lot of credit – as does Nia DaCosta’s direction.

However… I can’t help but feel that falling back on Satanism – literally one of the oldest tropes in the horror movie or shocking story playbook – feels anything other than cheap. As a critique of religious cults and overbearing leaders, I get it. And I think the character side of it worked reasonably well… Jimmy Savile aside. But Satanism itself, while it worked with some of the imagery and the music, just feels a bit played out and clichéd for a story like this. I think part of what made the Jimmy Savile stuff feel so underwhelming and like it was being played for pure outrage bait is the Satanism angle; perhaps The Bone Temple needed to pick one or the other. The story might’ve worked better if it hadn’t tried to have the gang do both.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing Jimmy's crucifixion — The film used a lot of Satanic imagery.

I think that’s where we’ll start to wrap things up.

The Bone Temple was an interesting film. But it wasn’t a great film, and as the continuation of a sequel I’d been very interested in for some twenty years or so… I think I have to say that it came up short. There were creative ideas in the mix, but some of them felt tropey, others felt like they were done purely to shock and offend, and while the film’s core themes and some of its characters worked well, there are enough downsides and drawbacks to consider it an imperfect motion picture.

I would recommend The Bone Temple to fans of last year’s instalment. But for anyone else – general horror fans, zombie connoisseurs, and even fans of 28 Days Later from back in 2002 – I’m not so sure. If it comes on streaming or it’s on TV one day and you’ve got nothing to lose by checking it out, then sure. I made it to the end, it killed a couple of hours, and I didn’t need to switch off partway through. But I can’t shake the feeling that such an iconic and genre-redefining work as 28 Days Later deserved better than this. And if it’s true, as has been suggested, that no sequel will be coming? The Bone Temple ends with Spike, Kellie, and Jim’s stories all incomplete.

Still frame from 28 Years Later The Bone Temple showing a zombie — Will there be a sequel?

I’m a big ol’ scaredy-cat when it comes to horror. So if Trekking with Dennis, of all people, is saying that a film wasn’t all that scary… then it genuinely wasn’t all that scary. So if what you want is a horror film to give you nightmares and take you to the edge of your seat, I don’t think you get that from The Bone Temple. I certainly didn’t. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t interesting ideas in the mix, fun character moments, and a pretty epic heavy metal song sequence to cap it all off. A mixed bag.

Earlier this year I reviewed a very different film: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. Click or tap here to check that out if you’re interested! And if you want to see a handful of titles that are on my radar as 2026 rolls along, click or tap here to see those. I’d like to review a few more films this year, though probably not too many in the horror genre – at least, not till October! And I have plans to check out a few TV programmes and video games, too. I hope you’ll join me for some of that here on the website.

Until next time… and don’t have nightmares!

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is available to purchase now on video-on-demand via Amazon and other platforms. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the copyright of Columbia Pictures and/or Sony Pictures Releasing. This review contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

Five Spooky Films To Get Spooky With This Spooktober!

Wed 02.10.24Dennis

Spoiler Warning: Minor spoilers may be present for some of the titles on this list.

Happy Spooktober!

It’s officially the spookiest, scariest, most horrifying month of the year, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to watch some horror films! Horror is not my favourite genre most of the time, but when October rolls around I’m happy to dip my toes in the dark waters of the scary side of cinema.

There have been some exceptional horror films made over the years, and the genre is currently in vogue. Some of the biggest films of the last decade have been in the horror genre; titles like Stephen King’s It, A Quiet Place, and The Conjuring all come to mind. These blockbusters broke out of the horror niche to attract huge audiences – and that’s great!

Still frame from It (2017) showing Pennywise. — Pennywise the clown from *Stephen King’s It*.

When I was a kid, I moved in nerdy friendship groups where watching horror films was almost a rite of passage. Being able to brag that you’d watched a particularly scary film at the cinema (or rented it on VHS from the shop) was a big deal – though I’m sure most of us were just putting on a brave face in those days! As mentioned, though, I’m not the world’s biggest horror fan these days, and when I do choose something spooky for Halloween, it tends to be a lighter, more kid-friendly title! I guess I’m just a big old scaredy-cat.

So to mark the arrival of Spooky Season, let’s pick five horror films that I think are worth watching. I’ve had fun with all of these films over the years, and I recommend each of them.

Artwork of three trick-or-treaters at Halloween. — Ready to go trick-or-treating?

As always, my usual caveats apply: this is by no means an exhaustive list! There are literally thousands of horror films out there, and I’m only picking a few on this occasion. And all of this is simply the subjective opinion of one person – a person who isn’t a big horror fan! So if I pick a film you loathe or skip a film you think should be included… that’s okay! There’s plenty of room for differences of opinion when talking about cinema.

With all of that out of the way, let’s jump into the spookiest list I’ve ever put together!

Film #1:
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
1922

Still frame from Nosferatu (1922) showing Orlok's shadow.

Let’s step back in time to the earliest days of cinema and watch a bona fide classic! I watched Nosferatu for the very first time this year, and while silent films are usually not my thing at all… I have to say that I found a surprisingly coherent film. The story behind Nosferatu is almost as compelling as the film itself: it was produced in Germany just after the end of the First World War, and ended up being sued by the estate of author Bram Stoker as a shameless rip-off of his Dracula novel. The film’s producers lost the case and were ordered to destroy all copies and prints of Nosferatu – but thankfully some survived!

You know the classic vampire story by now: Count Orlok (no, his name isn’t Nosferatu!) lives in a castle in Transylvania, feeding on the blood of innocent humans. He moves to Germany to continue his reign of terror, after enlisting a man to buy a house for him there. But can he be stopped in time? One of the all-time classics of cinema, and a film that did more than most to establish the foundations of the horror genre, Nosferatu is worth a watch for any horror fan. With the film being out of copyright, you can find high-quality copies online with ease.

Film #2:
The Hole
2001

Still frame from The Hole (2001) showing a character entering the bunker.

This film really creeped me out when I first watched it! The Hole recounts the story of a group of teenagers who become trapped in an underground bunker having sneaked inside to throw a party. As the situation becomes increasingly desperate, some of them are killed in pretty gruesome ways. The film documents the descent into madness of its main characters, and touches on some pretty dark themes along the way.

The Hole was an early project for Keira Knightley, who later went on to star in films like Pirates of the Caribbean and 2005’s Pride & Prejudice. Thora Birch takes the lead role, and The Hole tells a really disturbing tale of teenage love gone horribly wrong. There are twists and turns along the way, and I was on the edge of my seat most of the time.

Film #3:
Annihilation
2018

Still frame from Annihilation (2018) showing characters examining a mutated corpse.

Annihilation seems to be overlooked, but it’s a surprisingly strong sci-fi/horror title that’s well worth your time. There are some genuinely shocking “mutated” animals, and moments of body horror as the mysterious Shimmer begins to affect the humans sent to find out what’s happening inside it. There are relatively few out-and-out jump-scares, which is something I appreciated, but there are plenty of moments in the film that linger long after the credits have rolled.

There’s some technobabble about how the alien Shimmer is distorting the DNA of the plants and creatures within its boundary, and the scientific focus of the expedition is something relatively uncommon in the horror field. Alex Garland, who directed Annihilation, also directed 2024’s Civil War – a review of which you can find by clicking or tapping here, if you’re interested.

Film #4:
Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno)
2006

Still frame from Pan's Labyrinth (2006) showing Ofelia in bed and the Faun.

I think there are enough disturbing and scary moments in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth to earn it a place on a list like this one! It’s actually been a while since I watched it, but some scenes and moments are still etched in my mind eighteen years later. Young Ofelia is tasked with completing three trials to prove her worth as the reincarnation of a princess from a fairy-tale realm.

Some of the puppets and prosthetics created for Pan’s Labyrinth are truly outstanding – and grotesque. And the film’s twin storylines set in the dark underworld and Francoist Spain are both deeply engaging. The young performer who took on the incredibly challenging role of Ofelia really excelled, and del Toro’s direction is fantastic as well. A disturbing film in many ways… and well worth a watch.

Film #5:
Hotel Transylvania
2012

Still frame from Hotel Transylvania (2012) showing Dracula face-palming.

Despite its themes of death and horror, Halloween is still a holiday for the little ones! So I’ve chosen to include a kid-friendly entry on the list, and this year it’s the turn of Hotel Transylvania. The original film was a blast, as an unexpected human guest shows up at Dracula’s hotel – which is supposed to be a refuge for monsters, vampires, ghouls, and other horror movie staples.

What ensues is a classic comedy with a romantic sub-plot, one set against the backdrop of a haunted hotel/castle populated by Dracula and his clan. There’s a ton of fun to be had here, especially at Halloween, and Adam Sandler puts in what might just be my favourite performance of his as this version of Count Dracula. Hotel Transylvania has since been spun into a franchise – because of course it has – but for me, the first film is still the best of the bunch.

Bonus TV Series:
The Terror Season 1
(2018)

Still frame from The Terror Season 1 (2018) showing a sailing ship at sea.

In addition to the films listed above, I thought it could be fun to highlight one of my favourite horror TV shows of the last few years. The Terror takes Franklin’s lost expedition to the Arctic as its starting point, and weaves a tale of explorers trapped on the ice while being hunted by a soul-eating monster. The crew of the expedition grow increasingly desperate as they’re snowbound and trapped in ice, leading to a desperate bid to reach civilisation.

The monster in The Terror is largely unseen (in the style of films like Jaws), and I think it works incredibly well. There are excellent performances from Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, and Adam Nagaitis, among others, and the world of The Terror’s first season really grabbed me and pulled me into the world of the mid-19th Century. At time of writing, a third season of this anthology series has just been greenlit, so maybe we’ll watch that together next Halloween. Is that the first time you’ve seen someone mention Halloween 2025?

So that’s it!

Stock photo of two jack-o-lanterns. — Happy Spooktober!

We’ve picked five spooky films – and one bonus spooky TV programme – to watch this October.

I hope this has been a bit of fun. I like to branch out and explore some horror films at this time of year – even though I wouldn’t usually devote much time to the genre. There are a couple of films and series on the horizon that I’d like to take a look at this month, too, and I have a couple of other Halloweeny ideas that may (or may not) make their way onto the website before the 31st. So I hope you’ll stay tuned here on Trekking with Dead-nnis… if you dare!

All that’s left is for me to wish you a happy and spooky October. This really is my favourite time of year!

All films and TV shows discussed above are the copyright of their respective studio, broadcaster, distributor, or company. Some stock images courtesy of Unsplash and Pixabay. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

Five spooky films to spook you out in Spooktober!

Mon 02.10.23Mon 02.10.23Dennis

Spoiler Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for the titles on this list.

Happy Spooktober!

To celebrate the arrival of the spookiest, scariest, most terrifying month of the year, I thought it could be fun to pick out five films from the horror genre to take a look at!

When I was a kid, the nerdy friendship groups that I moved in seemed to see horror films as a kind of rite of passage – and being able to boast about having seen a particularly frightening one would score you major bragging rights! In those days we were limited to what was on sale on Betamax and VHS, as well as the meagre horror selection at the local video rental place. How times change, eh?

I’ll have to talk more about this on another occasion, but I have some very pleasant memories of Halloween as a youngster. When I was growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, the “Americanised” version of Halloween was just starting to take root here in the UK, and a local kids’ club that I attended threw a kind of Halloween-themed disco at that time of year. I remember it being great fun, getting dressed up in a silly costume and wearing a mask made either of horrible sharp plastic that would scratch your face when it cracked or a paper one that would tear and get soggy! I’m sure I’m over-romanticising those memories, but even as someone who isn’t a big fan of horror and scary things, Halloween has always had a positive association for me.

The kind of Halloween discos I remember as a kid had snacks like this!

So yes, you read that right: I’m not the world’s biggest fan of horror. In fact, at any other time of year I’d almost never choose a horror title for movie night at home! I scare easily, and jump-scares in particular almost always manage to get me – even when I know they’re coming! I’ve heard folks talk about the adrenaline rush that horror films give them being a major factor in why they like them, but that’s just not my jam! I’m more of a “cowering behind the sofa with my eyes shut” type of horror viewer!

That being said, I’ve watched a lot of horror films over the years, and there have been some great ones. Even if I wouldn’t necessarily watch them eleven months out of the year… well, it’s Spooktober!

So let’s jump into the list and take a look at the films I’ve chosen this year.

Film #1:
Dog Soldiers (2002)

I have fond memories of watching Dog Soldiers with a friend who was absolutely obsessed with the film! He bought it on video as soon as it was available and insisted I watch it right away. While I wasn’t as taken with it as he was, I found its premise interesting and its execution surprisingly solid. The film follows a squad of British soldiers who come under attack by werewolves!

Of all the classic monsters that made their way from folklore to popular culture, werewolves feel under-represented! Compared with vampires, zombies, witches, or even mummies, there are relatively few films in which werewolves are the main focus, and perhaps that’s part of why Dog Soldiers stands out; it’s something a little different in a genre that often returns to the same places.

There are some moments of absolutely gut-wrenching gore that hold up well, but on returning to the film twenty years later, I’m not so sure that all of the practical special effects – particularly those used for the werewolves themselves – have stood the test of time.

Film #2:
Jaws (1975)

Jaws is an absolute classic; a groundbreaking work of cinema that should be on everyone’s must-see list! It’s also a masterclass in how to build tension, with the monstrous shark being scarcely glimpsed for much of the film’s two-hour runtime. Jaws is also a surprisingly relatable human story – of people who ignore warnings and prioritise money and politicking over safety. Some things never change, eh?

Jaws also did a lot to unfairly demonise sharks, the great white in particular. Sharks are nowhere near as deadly as the film suggests, and many species actually need our protection to keep them safe from over-fishing and habitat destruction. One of Jaws’ most unfortunate legacies is the way in which many people came to fear and hate sharks.

I’ve heard some younger folks call Jaws “tame,” and I guess it might be by today’s standards. But it’s a transformative, groundbreaking film – and one I firmly believe everyone should watch at least once!

Film #3:
1408 (2007)

Based on a Stephen King story, 1408 is about a haunted hotel room. It’s a bit of a twist on the typical “haunted house” concept, but where 1408 really shines is in the characterisation of its protagonist. Actor John Cusack really gives a great performance here, bringing the character to life in a relatable and understandable way.

I didn’t realise this until doing a bit of research, but 1408 actually has several different endings – so if you have the film on DVD or Blu-ray you might be able to have a completely different experience of its final act. Deleted scenes aren’t uncommon, of course, but 1408 actually has very different endings depending on whether you watch the director’s cut or the original theatrical version. As a rule of thumb: always go for the director’s cut of any film!

For me, 1408 hits the kind of supernatural horror that I find most frightening – but it does it remarkably well.

Film #4:
Phineas and Ferb: Night of the Living Pharmacists (2014)

There’s got to be room for one kid-friendly entry on any Halloween list, and this time I’m picking the Phineas and Ferb special episode Night of the Living Pharmacists. The extended episode is a fun, gentle parody of zombie films like Night of the Living Dead, and even features legendary director George A. Romero in a cameo role.

I love Phineas and Ferb, and the show has several other Halloween-themed episodes that are well worth checking out. Night of the Living Pharmacists is silly in places – but that’s part of the fun. The story shakes up the typical formula of the show by pairing up the titular kids with antagonist Dr Doofenshmirtz as one of his experiments gets out of control.

Halloween is, at the end of the day, a holiday for the little ones. Night of the Living Pharmacists is spooky and atmospheric – perfect for any Halloween party or sleepover!

Film #5:
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

This adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel has become a modern classic. There are relatively few out-and-out “scary” moments in The Silence of the Lambs, as the film doesn’t rely on jump-scares and the like. But there’s a real sense of horror in the air as junior FBI agent Clarice Starling races against time to catch a serial killer.

The Silence of the Lambs features Anthony Hopkins’ iconic portrayal of Dr Hannibal Lecter, one of the most infamous villains in modern cinematic history. Lecter is so cold, calculated, and ruthless that he has a totally unique fear factor; he’s a single human being, not a demon or monster, and yet he’s capable of such gratuitous acts of violence. Hiding under a polite facade, pulling the strings, Dr Lecter has rightly become one of the big screen’s most terrifying serial killers.

Though The Silence of the Lambs is arguably as much thriller as horror, I still think it’s worth including here.

So that’s it!

We’ve picked out five spooky films to start Spooktober and the spooky season with a bang! I hope this has been a bit of fun at least, and maybe that you’ve got some inspiration for what to watch as Halloween gets closer.

Although I’m much more a fan of Christmas than Halloween, I unapologetically love this time of year. Autumn is almost certainly my favourite season, and as Halloween approaches I love seeing the wonderful and creative decorations, crafts, and costumes that people make to celebrate the spooky season! Some people really go all-out to make Halloween a massive celebration, and even though I’m not the biggest fan of horror or of being frightened, I’m absolutely there for the holiday!

There may be more spookiness to come before the 31st, so stay tuned here on Trekking with Dennis. If you dare…

All titles listed above are the copyright of their respective studio, broadcaster, distributor, and/or corporation. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

Five horror films to watch this Halloween

Thu 21.10.21Fri 15.04.22Dennis

Spoiler Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for the titles on this list.

With Halloween fast approaching, it seems like a good time to once again dabble in the spookier side of cinema! Horror has never been my favourite genre, but at this time of year I’m not averse to the occasional spooky film.

This short list is a follow-up to a similar list I wrote last Halloween, so if you’d like to see five more horror films that I recommend, you can do so by clicking or tapping here.

Horror as a genre can be incredibly varied. From jump-scares to the psychological terror of something unseen, and with such diversity of monsters, ghouls, and creepy critters, there are a lot of different titles that put their own spin on the horror concept. Whether you’re looking for serial killers, vampires, zombies, or demons, chances are you can find an excellent horror film that successfully brings them to screen!

I confess that I’m particularly sensitive to jump-scares, and now that I don’t feel the same kind of pressure to join in with horror titles as I did in my younger years (when watching horror films was almost a rite of passage!) I tend to favour films that don’t go for that style. Despite that, I hope you’ll find a varied mix of titles on this list!

Number 1: The Birds (1963)

Alfred Hitchcock is still considered one of the greatest directors of the horror and thriller genres, and for good reason. His pioneering style put viewers right at the centre of his stories, and every shot and every sequence was meticulously planned and crafted to maximise suspense and fear. The Birds is one of Hitchcock’s later films, coming toward the end of his career and following on from the likes of Vertigo and, of course, Psycho.

As a kid, I can remember being terrified by The Birds. The slow, tense build-up that Hitchcock’s films are known for is on full display in the title, with every scene and sequence gradually ramping up the threat to a terrifying climax. But more than that, the sheer randomness of birds as the “villain” of the piece is genuinely unsettling.

Birds are generally harmless. The worst a bird might do is steal your chips at the beach, but The Birds asks a question no one ever thought to ask before: what if they were working together to a menacing and aggressive end? It’s this premise – taking something harmless that we generally pay little attention to and making it scary – that makes the film succeed.

Number 2: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane in *Sleepy Hollow*.

Johnny Depp stars in this adaptation of the famous Washington Irving story, and the film brings the Headless Horseman to life in genuinely frightening fashion! The story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman is an old one, dating back to the early 1800s, and Washington Irving is considered one of the first great American authors.

Unlike the earlier Disney adaptation, Sleepy Hollow takes a distinctly adult horror tone. Director Tim Burton makes a number of changes to the source material, making the film an unpredictable ride even for those familiar with the original short story. Johnny Depp puts in a wonderful dramatic performance as Ichabod, too.

There’s something inherently frightening about the undead, and the first time the Headless Horseman is seen on screen manages to capture that feeling pitch-perfectly. Johnny Depp manages to perfectly convey Ichabod’s fear as well, ramping up the tension and making Sleepy Hollow a truly scary and spooky watch!

Number 3: The Omen (1976)

Gregory Peck as Robert Thorn in *The Omen*.

The Omen is an outstanding example of how to build up fear and tension without resorting to too many jump-scares or a lot of gore! It’s also a deeply disturbing film because of the implications of shadowy cults and conspiracies – and that’s before we even get to the birth of the literal anti-Christ!

When I first watched The Omen I was left unsettled for days afterwards. There’s a specific scene that I won’t spoil for you, but the build-up to a particularly shocking reveal in an Italian graveyard – and the implications it had for the film’s protagonist – left me stunned and disturbed! That particular memory is still vivid for me now, decades later.

As a film about demons, Satan, and the anti-Christ, The Omen was designed to be shocking and unsettling, especially to folks with any kind of religious convictions. And it succeeded beyond its wildest ambitions, becoming an absolute classic of the horror genre and spawning a franchise that still gets periodic updates and instalments today. Oh, and if you’re looking for a Star Trek connection, the film’s lead, Gregory Peck, was the grandfather of Ethan Peck – star of Discovery Season 2 and soon to be appearing in Strange New Worlds!

Number 4: 28 Days Later (2002)

With 28 Days Later, director Danny Boyle reinvigorated the zombie genre in a new and truly terrifying way! Prior to the film’s 2002 release, most zombies in cinema followed a pattern first popularised by George A. Romero in Night of the Living Dead – slow, shuffling, mindless creatures that were scary en masse but could be outrun by anyone fit enough. 28 Days Later introduced us to the infected – humans who were still alive but infected with a virus that turned them into killing machines… killing machines that could sprint!

Seeing the zombie horde running after the film’s protagonists was a new and incredibly shocking experience in 2002. Though a number of titles have used this more aggressive style of zombie in the years since, for me the portrayal in 28 Days Later remains one of the best and most frightening.

Technically not a “zombie” film as the infected aren’t undead, 28 Days Later nevertheless has a post-apocalyptic feel that is present in a lot of zombie fiction. Anyone who’s seen The Walking Dead (or read the original comic books) should note an eerie similarity in the way 28 Days Later opens… and remember that the film was released before the first issue of the comics!

Number 5: The Shining (1980)

The Shining is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, and as such it’s an unpredictable and very disturbing ride. Stanley Kubrick directed one of his last films, and adapted the book in truly inspired style. Some of the best-known moments in The Shining, including the famous line referenced above, weren’t present in the original book, and the film adaptation is arguably a rare example of a film surpassing its source material.

The film features some truly outstanding special effects. The “blood flood” scene has gone on to become iconic, and was shot in miniaturised form using detailed scale models. The practical special effects give the film a unique charm that today’s CGI can’t match, and in some cases the use of incredibly realistic practical effects ramps up the fear factor.

Jack Nicholson gave the world one of cinema’s most iconic scenes. But The Shining is so much more than that, and his character’s slow descent into madness is what makes the film so tense, exciting, and frightening.

So that’s it! Five horror films to get you into the Halloween spirit.

Remember to check out last year’s list for five more horror titles you might enjoy – you can find it by clicking or tapping here. And if you’re interested to see my review of last year’s television adaptation of another Stephen King work, The Stand, you can find that by clicking or tapping here.

I tried to put together a collection of films with different themes, styles, and subjects! Horror is an incredibly varied genre, and just in the five films above we have the natural world turned against us, an undead horseman, Satanism, technically-not-zombies, and finally a film with ghosts and a mad man. And we’ve barely scratched the surface!

Halloween is almost upon us, so stay tuned over the next few days – I have a couple more spooky ideas before the main event rolls around!

All titles included on the list above are the copyright of their respective studio, distributor, production company, broadcaster, etc. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

Five horror films to watch this Halloween

Wed 28.10.20Sun 20.11.22Dennis

Spoiler Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for the titles on this list.

Horror has never been my favourite genre for a number of reasons. But at this time of year, with Halloween imminent, I don’t mind dabbling in the occasional spooky film or two. There’s been a resurgence of the genre since about the turn of the millennium, and many recent titles have enjoyed big budgets and great visual effects. Gone are the days when horror was a total niche or a spin-off from fantasy and science fiction, and today titles such as It, Bird Box, and the Saw series are positively mainstream.

When I was at school and university, in the nerdy circles I moved in watching horror films was something of a rite of passage! Kids would compete to show how unperturbed they were at jump-scares and gory violence, and the topic of conversation was often “which scary film have you seen lately?” I joined in, of course, for fear of being labelled a “sissy” or a “wuss” for not participating! Nowadays, though, I seldom choose a horror title if I’m looking for something to watch. I readily admit that jump-scares almost always succeed at catching me off-guard, and while gruesomeness, violence, and gore really aren’t terribly offputting, jump-scares can be for me.

The usual caveat applies – the list is in no particular order, nor am I saying that these are the “all-time top five” horror films; instead these are five examples of horror titles that I think are pretty entertaining – in my subjective opinion!

Number 1: Drag Me To Hell (2009)

Not a blockbuster by any means, Drag Me To Hell is nevertheless a well-made film with an interesting premise and some great performances. Directed by Sam Raimi (of Spider-Man fame) it centres around a gypsy’s curse, and a woman who must find a way to escape the spell before she is – quite literally – dragged into hell by demons.

The desperation on the face of lead actress Alison Lohman as she realises what’s happening to her is pitch-perfect acting, and the film is packed with gruesome imagery and some genuinely frightening jump-scares. It’s also perhaps the “most Halloween-y” film on this list, as it deals with the supernatural, demons, and curses.

As the tale of an ordinary person forced into an unsettling and terrifying supernatural world, Drag Me To Hell manages to have a relatable protagonist, someone the audience can root for throughout her ordeal. In a genre overflowing with zombies and vampires, the curse is also something different, which I think makes Drag Me To Hell stand out.

Number 2: The Fly (1986)

David Cronenberg is considered the king of body-horror, and 1986’s The Fly shows why! Starring Jeff Goldblum in one of his most iconic roles, the film sees a scientist create a teleportation machine, only for things to go wrong when he accidentally teleports with a fly – causing their DNA to merge.

The monstrous mutations that Goldblum’s character suffers are truly grotesque, even by today’s standards, and the practical special effects still hold up more than thirty years later. His transformation into the titular fly is horrifying – but at the same time impossible to look away from! The Fly is a disturbing, weird watch, but truly one of the most interesting works of the genre.

Number 3: Alien (1979)

Though many people consider 1986’s Aliens to be superior, for my money you can’t beat the claustrophobic monster-horror feel of the first entry in the Alien saga. The film has rightly become a classic of both the horror and science-fiction genres, with sequels, spin-offs, and video game adaptations still being produced over forty years later. That’s a testament to the quality of Alien.

What makes this film great is that protagonist Ripley (played, of course, by Sigourney Weaver in what remains her best-known role) is facing down a single creature. Future films would show veritable armies of xenomorphs, but here there’s just one. That emphasises how deadly these creatures can be – as well as showing a much darker side to science-fiction than we see in many titles. Ripley is also at her best here, portrayed as much more human before her transformation in subsequent films to an invincible “badass.”

Alien also warns of the dangers of mega-corporations and of single-minded artificial intelligence in ways that other sci-fi titles are only now beginning to pick up on. And, of course, the film contains one of the most iconic scenes in the history of cinema. You know the one I mean! And if you don’t, well… you better watch Alien A.S.A.P!

Number 4: Let The Right One In/Låt den rätte komma in (2008)

This Swedish-language film was one of the most novel and interesting takes on the vampire genre that I’ve ever seen. It’s also a film which focuses primarily on two kids, making for some incredibly uncomfortable and unnerving sequences. I don’t watch a lot of foreign-language cinema, and precisely for that reason Let The Right One In feels even more otherworldly and eerie.

A few years after its 2008 release the film’s reputation led to a Hollywood remake. However, I would recommend watching the original version, as it feels more authentic and interesting.

Unlike some of the titles on this list, Let The Right One In has a slower pace, but that doesn’t make it any less tense – in fact, I’d argue it makes the tension even greater!

Number 5: Train to Busan/부산행 (2016)

The second foreign-language film on this list is a South Korean title. It wasn’t the plan to put two non-English films here, but the horror genre seems especially well-served outside of Hollywood! There are many Asian horror films that are considered among the best in the genre, and Train to Busan must surely be one of them.

I wouldn’t call it a unique or even especially different look at the zombie genre, especially in the aftermath of titles like 28 Days Later – which itself is worth a watch! But Train to Busan takes that premise and uses it expertly, with the titular train being both a sanctuary and an obstacle to the protagonists’ survival.

So that’s it. A few horror films to get you in a Halloween mood! I think we got a good mix of vampires, aliens, demons, mutants, and zombies to make for an interesting selection, though there are of course many more takes on the horror genre out there.

With only a couple of days to go, the big question is this: can I finish my playthrough of the Nintendo Switch game Luigi’s Mansion 3 in time for Halloween?! It’s not looking likely, is it?

All titles listed above are the copyright of their respective company, studio, and/or distributor. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.