Daisy Ridley Battles Zombies in First ‘We Bury the Dead’ Trailer

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The initial trailer for We Bury the Dead, a thrilling zombie survival film with Daisy Ridley in the lead role, has been unveiled. Zak Hilditch both wrote and directed the movie, and it also stars Mark Coles Smith, Brenton Thwaites, and Matt Whelan in significant parts.

The story centers around Ava Newman, portrayed by Ridley, and her quest to find her husband who disappeared following a failed military operation.

Driven by the hope of finding him still alive, Ava volunteers with a “body retrieval unit.” However, her task quickly becomes frightening when the bodies she’s burying begin to show signs of life.

Here’s a first look at the trailer for Zak Hilditch’s film, ‘WE BURY THE DEAD’, featuring Daisy Ridley.

The movie will be released in theaters on January 2, 2026.

— Movie Coverage (@MovieCoverage_) October 1, 2025

The film We Bury the Dead first premiered globally in March at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival. It will be shown in select cinemas in Australia and New Zealand starting October 9. Viewers in North America will be able to see it in 2026, following Vertical’s acquisition of the distribution rights in May.

Filming for the project happened in Albany, Western Australia, beginning in February 2024 and finishing in late March. The group of actors grew over time to include Kym Jackson, Matt Whelan, and Deanna Cooney, who played Lt. Wilkie, Mitch, and Bianca respectively.

Okay, so I’ve been checking out the early buzz, and it’s looking pretty good! Rotten Tomatoes is currently showing 89% positive reviews from 19 critics. I read a review from Katie Rife at IndieWire, and she said, “Overall, the craft of the movie is top-notch, with compelling performances, urgent pacing, and gorgeous cinematography.” Honestly, that’s exactly what I want to hear – a well-made film that really *moves*.

In a review for Variety, Siddhant Adlakha noted that the film is “most captivating and thrilling when it offers fresh takes on the familiar [zombie] genre, creating unsettling moments that explore the deepest, most enigmatic aspects of what it means to be human. However, it frequently and quickly reverts to standard horror tropes, leading to an uneven narrative.”

The just-released trailer offers viewers their initial glimpse into the challenging and heartfelt experiences of Ava as she navigates a world filled with zombies. It showcases the blend of thrilling suspense, frightening horror, and compelling character development that the movie is expected to deliver.

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2025-10-02 04:14