"We Bury the Dead": Zak Hilditch's Sci-Fi Horror Thriller Starring Daisy Ridley Hits Cinemas
Zak Hilditch's sci-fi horror thriller "We Bury the Dead," starring Daisy Ridley, has been released in cinemas following its international premiere at SXSW and debut at the Adelaide Film Festival. The film, which explores themes of grief and unfinished business within a zombie apocalypse setting, was primarily filmed in Western Australia despite originally being planned for Tasmania.
Film Overview
"We Bury the Dead" is directed by Zak Hilditch and features Daisy Ridley in the lead role of Ava, an American physical therapist. Brenton Thwaites portrays Clay, who assists Ava, and Mark Coles Smith appears as Riley, a police officer. The film is categorized as a sci-fi horror thriller set against a zombie apocalypse backdrop.
Plot Synopsis
The narrative unfolds in a devastated Tasmania, following the accidental deployment of a secret American military device, also referred to as an experimental weapon by the United States Navy, off the island's coast. This event resulted in the death of approximately half a million people and other living creatures. The deceased subsequently return to a state of "half-life," or do not remain permanently incapacitated.
Ava joins a body retrieval unit and travels to a militarized Devonport, her primary motivation being to locate her husband, who was on a work trip to Tasmania. Her search is also influenced by the unresolved terms on which she and her husband had parted.
Thematic Focus and Inspiration
Director Zak Hilditch and Ridley have stated that "We Bury the Dead" utilizes the zombie genre to delve into themes of grief, goodbyes, and unfinished business. Hilditch drew inspiration from his personal experience of sorting through his childhood home following his mother's death in 2017.
The creatures in the film, initially frozen after the deployment and gradually returning to a state of half-life, are presented as representing Ava's liminal state between certainty and uncertainty, and her confrontation with personal loss and past decisions.
Ridley has characterized the film as a relationship drama.
Hilditch's career frequently explores narratives of ordinary individuals confronting extraordinary circumstances. He has cited inspirations from various works, including:
- Ira Levin's "Veronica's Room"
- Peter Bogdanovich's "Paper Moon"
- Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's "28 Days Later"
- Films by Quentin Tarantino
Production and Filming
The screenplay for "We Bury the Dead" began development in late 2019. It was initially conceived without zombies and envisioned as an American road movie. The setting was later changed to Tasmania, and the concept of zombies returning to half-life was introduced to heighten the film's stakes and further explore Ava's journey and the central theme of unfinished business. Ridley was attracted to the project due to its unique approach to the genre.
While the film was originally intended to be set and filmed in Tasmania, inspired by the island's remote character, production ultimately took place in Western Australia, specifically in Albany. This decision was influenced by logistical and financial challenges, including difficulties in transporting crew and equipment, and a reported disparity in government funding support between Tasmania and Western Australia.
Screen Tasmania confirmed receiving a funding application for the project, which producers subsequently withdrew before assessment. A spokesperson for Screen Tasmania noted that Western Australia was a better fit for the production, though two traineeship placements were secured for Tasmanians on the project to aid local screen industry development.
This outcome was viewed by some in Tasmania's arts sector as a missed opportunity, given reports that Tasmania's arts and screen sector receives the lowest amount of government funding per capita and in actual terms compared to other Australian states.
The production team made efforts to recreate Tasmanian landscapes, with Hilditch stating that viewers often assume the film was shot in Tasmania.
Release and Reception
"We Bury the Dead" premiered internationally at SXSW and made its debut at the Adelaide Film Festival. The film was released in North America on January 2 and in Australia and New Zealand starting February 5. Confirmed theatrical screenings in Tasmania are limited to one cinema in Hobart, with ongoing efforts to secure additional venues. Critical reviews have been largely positive, with 87 percent of critics on Rotten Tomatoes providing a favorable assessment.