A.V. Opinions: The controversial cult of Jimmy

The ending of 28 Years Later has sparked widespread debate. What begins as a grounded, brutal continuation of the infected-ravaged world we first saw in 28 Days Later abruptly shifts tone in its final moments, introducing a strange, coordinated group of men in track suits who rescue the young protagonist, Spike. To many viewers, it felt like a jarring departure—some even described the scene as resembling a Power Rangers episode. But as divisive as it is, this ending may signal something far more intentional, and more disturbing, than it first appears.

A Full-Circle Moment

To understand the significance of the final scene, it helps to revisit the film’s opening. 28 Years Laterbegins with a devastating flashback: a young boy is watching Teletubbies on television as his family is killed by the infected. He runs to his father, a priest, who screams about judgment day before being torn apart. The boy hides beneath the floorboards of a nearby church, clutching a cross his father gave him.

By the film’s final act, Spike—our main character—is rescued by a crew of mysterious, highly coordinated survivors. The leader of this group is eventually revealed to be an older version of that same boy from the prologue. His name is Jimmy.

Director Danny Boyle has confirmed that Jimmy will be a central figure in the sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set for release in January. But speculation about the character’s origins has already cast a long shadow over his introduction.

A Disturbing Inspiration

Some viewers have noted that the character of Jimmy—and the appearance of his group—bear an unsettling resemblance to real-life UK television figure Jimmy Savile. Though Savile was once a beloved children’s TV host and public figure, he was posthumously revealed in 2012 to have committed hundreds of acts of sexual abuse over several decades. He is now considered one of the most prolific sex offenders in British history.

The parallels, while not confirmed by Boyle or the writers, are hard to ignore. The styling of the Jimmy gang—their hair, their track suits, and their frozen-in-time energy—evokes a kind of pop culture arrested development. Jimmy’s last frame of reference seems to be the world as it existed when he was a child: Teletubbies, religious apocalypse sermons, and early 2000s culture. It appears that after witnessing the end of civilization, he never psychologically matured. Instead, he became something much stranger—and much darker.

The Cult of Jimmy

Jimmy didn’t just survive. He adapted, regressed, and built something around himself: a cult-like gang that follows his lead with precision. There are subtle hints throughout the film that point to the disturbing nature of this group. In one scene, Spike and his father stumble across a man hanging from the rafters, with the name “Jimmy” carved into his chest—a possible act of ritual, punishment, or worship.

Spike, a child himself, sees the Jimmy gang as heroic. They arrive in dramatic fashion and save his life. But their charisma and choreography may be a mask for something sinister. What Spike perceives as cool or powerful may be the beginning of a dangerous indoctrination.

Danny Boyle has stated that The Bone Temple will explore “the nature of evil,” and in that context, Jimmy takes on a more symbolic role. He is not just a person hardened by the apocalypse. He represents something deeper: the way trauma, isolation, and a lack of moral foundation can metastasize into real-world horror.

What Role Will Jim Play?

Adding another layer of intrigue is the confirmation that Cillian Murphy will return for a cameo in the next film. Murphy played Jim in 28 Days Later, the survivor whose quiet resilience and moral compass helped anchor the original film. His reappearance raises major questions: Is he a prisoner of the Jimmy cult? A reluctant member? Or could he become a guiding force for Spike, trying to save the boy from falling under Jimmy’s influence?

Also unclear is the fate of Spike’s father, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. He spends much of 28 Years Later trying to protect his son—will he return in the sequel to try to rescue him from the cult? Or will the responsibility fall solely on Jim?

A Controversial Shift with Narrative Weight

The final act of 28 Years Later may feel tonally inconsistent, but in retrospect, it plants seeds for what could be the darkest chapter in the trilogy. Jimmy is not simply a bizarre character twist; he may represent the psychological fallout of a world without structure or healing. The over-the-top visual style, the coordinated movement of his followers, and the apparent reverence they show him are not accidents—they’re signals of something deeply wrong.

It’s a controversial ending, but one that challenges expectations. Rather than rehashing the same kind of survival story we’ve seen before, the film sets up a confrontation with something new: not just infected bodies, but corrupted minds. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple could very well be the franchise’s descent into a new kind of horror—one built on human psychology, cult behavior, and the loss of innocence in a broken world.

Whether it pays off remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the world of 28 Years Later just got a lot more disturbing.