Review published 8th February 2026

Watch the official trailer.

Catastrophe in Tasmania: Ava Joins the Cleanup Amid Devastation and Rising Hope

A major disaster has taken place, with footage showing that the devastating tragedy has resulted in 500,000 deaths in just an instant. It all began when the U.S. military unexpectedly launched an experimental weapon in Tasmania, Australia, completely wiping out Hobart. When volunteers are called to travel to Tasmania to assist with the cleanup and help locate any survivors in body-retrieval units, a physical therapist named Ava, played by Daisy Ridley, joins. Ava’s primary objective for enlisting is to travel to southern Tasmania, where she hopes to find her husband, who had been there on a work retreat.

Ava Faces Delays and the Rising Dead as Mystery Deepens

Sadly, upon arriving at headquarters, Ava learns that the zone where her husband was remains inaccessible. Until it is deemed safe, she must remain with the team, hoping that southern Tasmania will eventually reopen in due time. Shortly after Ava’s arrival, an announcement is made that strange behaviour is beginning to occur among the deceased. While the dead largely remain docile and dead, some are returning to life. How this is happening remains unknown.

Ava and Clay Face the Rising Dead on a Dangerous Quest for Survival

Paired up with an Australian named Clay (Brenton Thwaites), Ava begins retrieving bodies from various homes. Should the pair encounter any of the dead returning to life, they are to light up a flare, alerting the military to move in, gun the undead down, and properly dispose of the bodies.  Will Ava be able to push through, make her way to southern Tasmania, and find her husband?

We Bury the Dead: Horror, Thriller, and Unsettling Body Horror from Zak Hilditch

We Bury the Dead is a horror film with a strong thriller element. While the film focuses on the dead rising, it also features moments of unsettling body horror.  The film was written and directed by Zak Hilditch, whose past work includes These Final Hours (2014), Rattlesnake (2019), and 1922 (2017), as well as several other projects as both writer and director.

We Bury the Dead: Gripping First Act, Strong Performances, and Striking Zombies

As for the positives, We Bury the Dead immediately pulled me in and held my undivided attention throughout the first act. We are quickly introduced to the central characters, rapidly made aware of the risks and high stakes, and I found myself admiring Ava’s determination to find her husband. Despite having no military training, she is wise and brave enough to find a workaround and pursue what matters most to her.  Both Daisy Ridley and Brenton Thwaites deliver extremely enjoyable performances, and the pair share a chemistry that works surprisingly well. If I am being honest, I also think Brenton Thwaites steals several scenes with his comedic dialogue, which consistently earned a chuckle from me. This added humour provides a welcome balance, lightening the on-screen drama and complementing the film’s more heartfelt moments.  The zombies themselves look fantastic whenever they appear, and none of them feel alike. The moments of blood and violence are handled in a way that feels both effective and realistic, and the various Australian locations on display are a genuine sight to behold.

Promising Start Falters as the Story Drags and Predictability Sets In

Unfortunately, once the film moved beyond its first act, I began to feel disengaged. What the first act promised gradually faded away, and the story became something else entirely. The second act drags and introduces a whole new subplot that ultimately feels designed to chew up time before the film returns to its main trajectory in the third act, where it attempts to wrap up.  The third act also suffered from a strong sense of predictability, which left me disappointed, as I felt I was waiting for the obvious to unfold. Naturally, the impact of the major reveals will vary among viewers, and the same can be said for the film’s final moments.

We Bury the Dead: Strong Leads and Zombie Chaos with Some Predictable Twists

Overall, We Bury the Dead is an impressive Australian horror film with strong leads, solid performances, and effective effects surrounding the rise of the dead. Moments of gore and violence will also be satisfying for horror fans. Opening with an incredibly strong first act, I felt instantly hooked into the world and the chaos within it.  However, by the second act, the story shifts in a different direction that feels more like a filler for what viewers will already sense is coming in the third act. On top of this, many of the outcomes are predictable, leaving me waiting for certain events rather than experiencing any real shock or surprise.  Still, the film remains entertaining, particularly due to the pairing of Daisy Ridley and Brenton Thwaites, who almost steals the show. Watching the two team up and face Australia’s largest zombie outbreak is reason enough to stay invested. The Walking Dead fans should definitely check this one out.

We Bury the Dead (2025) is Now Available in Australian Cinemas!

About the Reviewer

Peter Walkden

Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.

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