We Bury the Dead is a hard-R survival thriller that trades the usual "zombie apocalypse" tropes for a claustrophobic, soul-crushing meditation on grief and body horror. It’s an Australian production that feels more like a funeral march than an action flick, making it a "wait until the kids are asleep" pick for parents who want a high-tension palette cleanser that actually has something to say.
We Bury the Dead is a bleak, visceral thriller starring Daisy Ridley as a woman searching for her husband’s body after a mass-casualty event. It’s heavy on graphic gore and even heavier on the psychological weight of loss, making it a great pick for fans of The Last of Us but definitely not for a family movie night. If you’re looking for something the kids can actually handle, stick to our best movies for kids list.
Directed by Zak Hilditch (the guy behind the grim Stephen King adaptation 1922), the movie follows Ava (Daisy Ridley) in the aftermath of a military experiment gone wrong in the Australian outback. Thousands are dead, and Ava joins a body retrieval unit to find her missing husband. The hook? The dead aren't staying dead in the way you’d expect—they are "waking up" in a way that feels more like a medical nightmare than a George Romero movie.
If you’re expecting World War Z style hordes or the campy fun of Zombieland, you’re in the wrong place. This movie is interested in the tactile, gross reality of death.
The Gore is Visceral, Not Cartoonish
Most "infected" movies use CGI to make the monsters look like monsters. We Bury the Dead keeps it uncomfortably human. Because the protagonist is part of a body retrieval unit, the camera lingers on the process: the tagging, the bagging, and the handling of corpses. When those corpses start showing signs of life, it’s not a "jump scare" moment; it’s a "this shouldn't be happening" moment of pure body horror. It’s wet, it’s heavy, and it feels real.
Daisy Ridley’s Performance is a Left Turn
For anyone who only knows Ridley from her time in a galaxy far, far away, this is a massive departure. She plays Ava with a level of desperation that is genuinely hard to watch. She’s not a hero saving the world; she’s a grieving wife who is willing to walk through a literal field of corpses to find a sense of closure. It’s a performance that anchors the movie in emotional stakes rather than just survival mechanics.
The "Undead" are a Metaphor for Grief
The central tension of the movie isn't "will they eat me?" but rather "how do we let go of what won't stay buried?" The "zombies" here are sluggish, confused, and tragic. They represent the way grief lingers—how we want to hold onto the people we’ve lost even when they are clearly gone. It’s a sophisticated take on the genre that will resonate with adults but will likely just be confusing or depressing for younger viewers.
If the bleak, "prestige horror" vibe of We Bury the Dead hits for you, here are a few other things that play in that same sandbox:
- Cargo: Another Australian standout. It’s a more paternal take on the genre, following a father trying to find a safe haven for his infant daughter in the middle of an outbreak. It’s emotional, grounded, and shares that dusty, isolated outback atmosphere.
- A Quiet Place: Day One: If you want the "mass casualty event" scale but with a little more Hollywood polish and a cat. It handles the "end of the world" through a very personal, quiet lens.
- The Last of Us (the show): The gold standard for "zombies as a backdrop for human drama." If you haven't seen it, it’s the closest sibling to what Ridley is doing here.
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Look, if We Bury the Dead leaves you feeling like you need to see a therapist, watch this. It’s also set in the bush (New Zealand this time), features a search party, and deals with grief, but it’s funny, heartwarming, and actually something you can watch with your 10-year-old.
The "friction point" here isn't just the violence—it's the relentless grimness. Some horror movies have a "fun" factor where you can laugh at the absurdity of the monsters. This isn't that. It’s a movie about a woman handling hundreds of dead bodies while hoping one of them is her husband.
The Pro-Tip: This is a "mood" movie. If you’re already having a week where the news is too much or you’re feeling the weight of the world, maybe save this for later. It’s excellent, but it’s a heavy lift. If you do watch it, it’s a great jumping-off point to talk about how different directors use "monsters" to talk about real-world fears like loss or environmental collapse.
Q: Is We Bury the Dead too scary for a 13-year-old? It’s less about "scary" (as in jump scares) and more about "disturbing." The movie is rated R for a reason—the graphic nature of the body retrieval and the psychological intensity of the grief are a lot. Most 13-year-olds will find it more "gross and sad" than "fun scary."
Q: Does the movie have a lot of jump scares? Not really. Zak Hilditch leans into dread and atmosphere. The tension comes from the environment and the situation, not from things leaping out of the shadows. It’s a slow-burn thriller that builds to a fever pitch.
Q: Is there any sexual content in We Bury the Dead? No, the focus is entirely on survival, grief, and the horror of the situation. The R rating is primarily for the violence, the language, and the pervasive graphic imagery of corpses.
Q: How does this compare to other Daisy Ridley movies? It couldn't be more different from Star Wars. This is Ridley proving her range in a gritty, independent-feeling genre piece. If you’re a fan of her work, it’s a must-watch, but don't expect the lighthearted adventure of her earlier films.
We Bury the Dead is a reminder that the horror genre can be a powerful tool for exploring the things we’re actually afraid of—like losing the people we love. It’s a tough watch, but for intentional parents who appreciate a film that doesn't pull its punches, it’s one of the more interesting thrillers to come out of the 2024-2025 cycle.
- For the full age-by-age breakdown of what’s actually worth watching, check out our best movies for kids list.
- If you’re looking for a show that handles similar themes but over a longer arc, see our guide to The Last of Us.
- Ask our chatbot for a palette cleanser recommendation
