DVD Corner

We Bury The Dead Blu-ray Review

“We Bury The Dead” is a quality zombie film.  

Written and directed by Zak Hilditch (who helmed the vastly underrated “These Final Hours”), “We Bury The Dead” is a zombie movie/road movie. The story takes place in the aftermath of an experimental weapon accident that wiped out 500,000 people on the island of Tasmania. Many people, however, begin to rise from the dead (though not all). The Australian military (along with volunteers) are taking part in a clean up operation that also involves putting down any undead people. One such volunteer (an American woman named Ava) volunteers to help, but for a very personal reason. She is trying to find her husband Mitch in a quarantined area. With the aid of an Australian man (Clay) who isn’t afraid to break the rules, the two venture off to find him. The journey is fraught with peril as they not only encounter zombies, but an unhinged soldier. Will Ava find Mitch? Is she harboring secrets about their relationship? Is there more to the zombies than meets the eye?

Post-apocalyptic stories seem to be Zak Hilditch’s forte and “We Bury The Dead” is no exception. Hilditch manages to do a lot with a modest budget. There’s a real scope to this film and there’s an immense amount of world building taking place here. Along with cinematographer Steve Annis, Hilditch creates a very visual zombie film filled with Australian landscapes, horrifying violence, and eerie zombie action. It doesn’t reinvent the zombie subgenre as it’s been rather played out by this point, but Hilditch puts his own stamp on it. He creates a very serious and grounded piece about survival, humanity, relationships, and journeys. It’s just as much of a character piece about Ava attempting to find closure while dealing with loss and regret. At the same time, the exploration of zombies in this story also proves to be of interest right down to the very ending.

Speaking of Ava, Daisy Ridley (of the Star Wars sequel trilogy fame) really gets an opportunity to flex her acting muscles here. She gives a largely introspective performance that pairs well with Brenton Thwaite’s lively, scene stealing role as Clay.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a sharp hi-def transfer.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The 5.1 track is as immersive as can be.

No extras.

March 29, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Daisy Ridley, We Bury The Dead Blu-ray Review, Zombie Movie