The zombie genre has been done to death—no pun intended. But We Bury the Dead, which just premiered at SXSW, injects a much-needed dose of originality into the undead landscape. Directed by Zak Hilditch (1922), this film isn’t your typical flesh-eating horde movie. Instead, it’s a deeply atmospheric and emotional journey wrapped in the guise of a post-apocalyptic horror.
Going into this film completely blind is a blessing. We Bury the Dead slowly reveals its world, making its bleak reality feel all the more suffocating. The setup is simple but powerful: in the aftermath of a nuclear disaster, bodies have begun to rise—but not in the way we’ve seen before. Instead of ravenous, mindless monsters, these creatures exist as an eerie, almost sorrowful presence, mirroring the grief and trauma of the survivors.
Daisy Ridley stars as Ava, an outsider who arrives in Tasmania, where the film takes place. As part of a body retrieval unit, she isn’t just facing the threat of the undead—she’s navigating a web of guilt, blame, and survival in a world that no longer makes sense. The thematic weight here is heavy, and Ridley carries it like a pro. She’s no stranger to playing strong, determined leads, but Ava is one of her most complex roles yet. She’s not a warrior—she’s just trying to find meaning in the devastation around her.
What really sets We Bury the Dead apart is its approach to fear. This isn’t a movie about running from zombies—it’s about what happens when you have to live alongside them. The dead are just a backdrop for the real horror: human desperation. The characters in this film aren’t worried about a sudden zombie attack. Instead, they’re struggling to understand what it means when the past won’t stay buried.
Mark Webber’s character, Riley, represents this perfectly. As part of the military presence in this world, he’s not your typical antagonist. He’s a man consumed by his own grief after losing a loved one, and his personal agenda intertwining with Ava’s in ways that add layers to his story. The film makes a point of blurring the lines between hero and villain, making it hard to pin down exactly who (or what) to fear.
One of the film’s biggest strengths is its commitment to practical effects. The zombie designs, created by Jason Baird (Academy Award-nominated for Elvis), are eerie and grotesque, but not in an over-the-top, Walking Dead kind of way. They’re unsettling because they feel real—like remnants of people, not just monsters. The sound design also played a crucial role in the film’s eerie tone. There felt like a deliberate stillness to many of the scenes, making every small sound mean something, whether it’s the creak of a floorboard or a distant breath. It all felt amplified and watching it in a theatrical experience with the full weight of its sound mix makes a huge difference all on its own.
Final Verdict – 3.5/5 – A Good Watch for Horror Fans
We Bury the Dead is the kind of horror film that lingers with you. It’s not about cheap jump scares or excessive gore. It’s about grief, survival, and the way we process loss. If you’re expecting fast-paced action and traditional zombie carnage, this might not be your thing. But if you’re looking for something fresh, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling, We Bury the Dead is one to watch. This is a film made for the big screen, and it deserves to be experienced that way.