Daisy Ridley returns to the big screen in We Bury the Dead, a haunting zombie thriller that premiered at SXSW 2025 to critical acclaim. Directed by Zak Hilditch, this isn’t your typical undead blockbuster—it’s an intimate exploration of grief wrapped in post-apocalyptic horror. Here’s everything you need to know about the release schedule and what makes this film stand out.

We Bury the Dead Release Schedule

Region	Release Date	Platform
SXSW Premiere	March 2025	Festival screening
United States	January 2, 2026	Limited theatrical
Australia & New Zealand	February 5, 2026	Theatrical
Streaming	TBA	To be announced

After its March 2025 SXSW debut, We Bury the Dead secured distribution through Vertical Entertainment in May 2025. The US theatrical release on January 2, 2026 positions it as an early-year genre standout, while Australian audiences—where the film was shot—will see it February 5, 2026.

What Makes We Bury the Dead Different?

Unlike traditional zombie blockbusters, We Bury the Dead focuses on emotional devastation rather than large-scale spectacle. The story follows Ava Newman (Daisy Ridley), who joins a body retrieval unit hoping to find her missing husband after a catastrophic military experiment unleashes the dead.

According to Sportskeeda’s comprehensive coverage, what begins as a search for closure transforms into terror when corpses show signs of life. The undead become both literal threats and heartbreaking reminders of what Ava lost.

Shot in Albany, Western Australia between February-March 2024, the film’s rugged isolation amplifies its bleak tone. Director Zak Hilditch returns to character-driven horror after previous works exploring human psychology in extreme circumstances.

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Meet the Cast Behind the Dead

Daisy Ridley leads as Ava Newman, bringing the same intensity that made her a household name as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Supporting her are:

Mark Coles Smith as Riley
Brenton Thwaites (Titans, Pirates of the Caribbean) as Clay
Kym Jackson as Lt. Wilkie
Matt Whelan as Mitch
Deanna Cooney as Bianca

The ensemble captures the desperation of survivors in a broken world, each contributing to Ava’s harrowing journey through devastated territories.

The Emotional Core

We Bury the Dead uses zombies symbolically—they represent unresolved grief, false hope, and the psychological toll of catastrophic loss. Ava’s search for her husband mirrors anyone who’s struggled to accept devastating news, making the horror deeply personal.

This approach distinguishes Hilditch’s film from action-heavy zombie fare, prioritizing intimate character work over spectacle. The Western Australian landscapes become characters themselves, reinforcing themes of isolation and desolation.

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