⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Directed by: Zak Hilditch
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Brenton Thwaites
Set in the aftermath of a devastating global event, We Bury the Dead follows a woman navigating a broken world while searching for answers about what happened to the people she lost. While it wears the skin of a zombie film, this isn’t about nonstop chaos or gore. It’s about grief. Survival. And the emotional weight of what’s left behind.
If you’re expecting a traditional, high-octane undead thriller, this isn’t that. This is quieter. More personal. And honestly, that’s what makes it stand out.
Daisy Ridley carries this film with a grounded, emotionally raw performance. She feels human in every moment — not like an action hero, but like someone trying to process trauma in real time. There’s a vulnerability to her character that gives the movie its heart.
Brenton Thwaites complements her well. His performance adds depth and unpredictability without ever feeling over-the-top. The chemistry between them feels natural, which makes the emotional beats land even harder.
This is a character-driven horror film, and the performances are what make it work.
Zak Hilditch directs with restraint. The world feels empty and broken without constantly screaming it at you. There’s a quiet tension running through the film — like something is always slightly off.
The pacing is deliberate but never dull. It takes its time with characters and atmosphere instead of rushing toward spectacle. That patience pays off.
What I really appreciated is that the film doesn’t rely on typical genre tricks. It builds dread through mood and uncertainty rather than constant jump scares or action sequences.
The sound design is one of the strongest elements here. There are moments where the audio becomes deeply unsettling — subtle noises, distant echoes, sudden shifts into silence. It gets under your skin in a way that feels intentional and controlled.
The effects are impressive without feeling excessive. When the horror elements hit, they hit effectively. The film doesn’t overuse them, which makes the impact stronger when they arrive.
Visually, the muted color palette reinforces the bleak tone. The cinematography captures isolation in a way that adds to the emotional weight of the story.
I love when a horror film surprises me.
Going in, I expected something more straightforward — maybe more action-driven. What I got was a thoughtful, emotionally grounded take on the genre.
It has moments of fun. It has real tension. And it has heart, which is something a lot of “zombie” films forget to include.
This feels like a fresh take without trying too hard to reinvent everything. It respects the genre while telling a personal story.
Because it’s so character-driven, I’d absolutely revisit this. There’s emotional depth here that makes it more than just a one-time genre experience.
Final Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆
We Bury the Dead is a unique and intriguing entry into the zombie genre. It balances tension, emotion, and atmosphere in a way that feels mature and intentional.
Strong performances, unsettling sound design, and a grounded story elevate it above many recent entries in the genre.
It may not be a nonstop thrill ride, but that’s exactly why it works.
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