We Bury The Dead

Official Australian release date: 5/2/26. Viewed: 8/2/26.
Director: Zak Hilditch
Actors: Daisy Ridley, Brenton Thwaites, Mark Coles Smith, Matt Whelan
Genre: Drama / Horror
Rating: MA

‘We Bury The Dead’ is an Australian zombie film, that doesn’t really focus on the zombie aspect and spends more time dealing with grief, sorrow and the relationship between Ava (Ridley) and Mitch (Whelan). The premise sounds great and a bit different = America accidentally lets off an experimental bomb near Tasmania, which kills every living animal, including humans, on the island. Then, some of those dead are reanimating, so the army sends down volunteers to literally clear and bury the dead.

Ava is paired with Clay (Thwaites), who makes sure to swear enough that we know he’s Australian, and they go about the grisly job of clearing house is Tassie’s north. The film does well to set-up the scenario and mood. When Ava and Clay head towards Hobart, we run into Riley (Coles Smith), who plays a very different character to Jay Swan. There’s lots of quiet & eerie moments, and a few gross ones, but nothing too violent/scary. We get a few more zombies in the last 30min or so, but not necessarily what you’re expecting.

There’s some good Aussie songs throughout, and it’s part road-trip film. But probably more focus on Ava & Mitch’s relationship via flashbacks than was needed. It’s certainly no ‘28 Years Later’, but doesn’t try to be. Reminiscent of Hilditch’s ‘These Final Hours’ – both try hard, but are a little slow. Nice to see Australian scenery and actors, but not sure why it was mostly filmed in WA if set in Tas? Odd ending, but in-line with the more melancholic vibe.

Overall: Different, more dramatic/less horrific, zombie film

Gav’s Rating: 3 stars