Daisy Ridley Battles Zombies in First ‘We Bury the Dead’ Trailer
The first trailer for We Bury the Dead, a zombie survival thriller starring Daisy Ridley, has just been released. The film is written and directed by Zak Hilditch and also features Mark Coles Smith, Brenton Thwaites, and Matt Whelan in key roles.
The story follows Ava Newman, played by Ridley, as she searches for her missing husband after a disastrous military experiment.
Hoping to find him alive, Ava joins a “body retrieval unit.” But her mission takes a terrifying turn when the corpses she is burying start showing signs of life.
First teaser for Zak Hilditch’s ‘WE BURY THE DEAD’ starring Daisy Ridley.
— Movie Coverage (@MovieCoverage_) October 1, 2025
In theaters January 2, 2026. pic.twitter.com/oITKw1Y9Yg
We Bury the Dead had its world premiere in March at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival. It is set for a limited theatrical release in Australia and New Zealand on October 9. North American audiences will get a limited release in 2026, after Vertical acquired distribution rights in May.
Filming took place in Albany, Western Australia, starting in February 2024 and wrapped in late March. The cast gradually expanded to include Kym Jackson, Matt Whelan, and Deanna Cooney as Lt. Wilkie, Mitch, and Bianca.
Early reviews have been mostly positive. Rotten Tomatoes shows 89 percent of 19 critics’ reviews are favorable. Katie Rife from IndieWire wrote, “Overall, the craft of the movie is top-notch, with compelling performances, urgent pacing, and gorgeous cinematography.”
Siddhant Adlakha of Variety said the film is “at its most interesting and exciting when it approaches the well-worn [zombie] subgenre with brand-new spins, resulting in haunting scenes that open a cinematic window into the darkest, most mysterious parts of the human condition. Unfortunately, it keeps swerving back toward traditional horror territory at breakneck speed, resulting in a lopsided structure.”
The newly released trailer gives fans a first look at the intense and emotional journey Ava faces in a world overrun by the undead. It highlights the mix of suspense, horror, and character-driven drama that the film promises.
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