As the New Year hits, it can be difficult to bury the past, especially if it keeps coming to life.

Directed by Zak Hilditch, We Bury the Dead begins after a horrifying military disaster off the coast of Australia leaves most of the population of Tasmania deceased… sort of. While many of the victims died instantly, there are many who have risen… with blood on their minds. As a result, in the aftermath, the military have enlisted volunteers to help deal with the endless stream of bodies that line the streets. Motivated by the loss of her missing husband, Ava (Daisy Ridley) joins the cause and steps into the apocalyptic madness. However, on her journey, what she finds may be even more terrifying than she could have imagined.

Although Bury may hit a number of the ‘zombie’ film tropes, Hilditch ensures that the film feels entirely fresh. Yes, Buryfeatures an apocalyptic hell-scape where the dead refuse to stay in the ground. Yes, the film follows one person’s quest into the heart of land’s darkness, against the rule of law. Even so, this isn’t merely another zombie scare-fest.

In fact, it’s far more rooted in the things than make us human.

Although the set-up feels familiar at times, Hilditch grounds the film entirely in Ava’s emotional journey. Without giving any spoilers, while the film follows her relentless mission to find her husband in the present, Bury is ultimately about her obsession with fixing the past. Every step further that she makes into the carnage becomes a metaphor for her own self-discovery. She yearns to find her love yet we also know that this journey will take her deeper within herself.

And much of credit for Bury’s success must be given to Ridley. As Ava, she once again delivers solid work as a woman caught between the grief of her past and her drive towards the future. Although Ridley is best known for her big budget role as Rey Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, its roles such as these that showcase her immense talent in subtle expressions and quieter moments. Much like her incredible performance in Sometimes I Think About Dying, Bury shows her incredible ability to communicate through every glance and glare. With limited dialogue, Ridley allows Ava to share with us her deepest thoughts.

But, perhaps, the most challenging realization about We Bury the Dead is that—sometimes—things can’t be fixed. In the midst of this zombie apocalypse, Hilditch reminds us that, despite the efforts of the military and rescue teams, nothing can actually be done about the situation. There is no cure. And no master plan to fix the problems. Instead, what’s left is carnage and violence. This is a world at the end of time for this population. Some are dead while others likely wish they were. And all the volunteers can do is try to clean up the mess.

If that sounds bleak, that’s par for the course in Bury. However, it’s not meant to be entirely hopeless either. While the rest of the world grieves, Ava’s determination remains steadfast in the face of overwhelming odds. She believes that her actions will make a difference, no matter how small. And that kernel of belief pushes her forward.

In fact, that hopefulness even leads to deeper questions about the dignity of the afflicted. For Ava and her team, the question of just ‘how dead’ the deceased actually are becomes a hot topic. For many, the dead are no longer human. Believed to be empty sacks of meat, they are treated as a nuisance by the military.

However, there are some that see things differently.

Even though the ‘zombie’ hoard are wreaking havoc, there are some that still see humanity within them. For these (very) few, the idea that the dead have lost their value is discourteous to who they were (and, maybe, to who they are now). To them, everyone deserves their dignity, even in the aftermath of an apocalypse.

And its conversations like this that make We Bury the Dead more than the average escapist horror. Backed by some great work by Ridley, Hilditch’s wicked world is well worth the trip. Though often silent in its dialogue, this is an apocalypse with something to say. And these zombies may actually inspire your brain as opposed to eating them.

We Bury the Dead is available in theatres on Friday, January 2nd, 2026.