Although zombie-based media ran rampant through the 2000s and 2010s, the genre faded somewhat in the 2020s. That doesn’t mean we don’t still get efforts under that umbrella, of course, and 2025’s We Bury the Dead offers a new example.

Off the coast of Tasmania, an accidental detonation caused by the US military creates catastrophe and widespread death – apparently. In fact, this event turns some victims into undead zombie-like beings.

Though authorities claim these creatures offer no threat, the truth proves different. When she searches for her missing husband Mitch (Matt Whelan), Ava Newman (Daisy Ridley) deals with perilous circumstances.

As I implied at the start of this review, the zombie genre got ample exploration over an extended period of time. Given how many movies and TV shows we received within that domain, the question becomes whether or not Bury manages to do anything fresh – or at least interesting – with this well-worn subject.

I think it does. While Bury never threatens to turn into a classic, it creates its own take on the topic.

Much of this stems from the fact Bury focuses more on human journeys than zombie mayhem. Although the undead exist as a perpetual specter, they play a smaller role in the overall narrative than one might anticipate.

Instead, the movie focuses more on Ava’s desire for closure. We get flashbacks to fill in our knowledge of her relationship with Mitch and these help flesh out Ava and her pursuit.

This will likely disappoint viewers who simply desire gory antics. However, these choices make Bury richer than the average blood and guts affair.

A good decade after her role as Rey in 2015’s The Force Awakens made her a star, I think Ridley struggles to escape the long shadow of Star Wars in the public eye. Bury helps remind us that she boasts solid dramatic chops,though.

Ridley manages the movie’s sporadic action beats well and she brings a sense of heart and humanity to our lead. She adds depth to the proceedings.

At times Bury can feel a little torn between its desire to create a character drama and the violent demands of the zombie genre. Nonetheless, it usually brings us a compelling narrative.

We Bury the Dead appears in an aspect ratio of 2.39:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. The movie came with a fine presentation.

Sharpness worked well. A few shots seemed slightly soft, but not to a problematic degree, and the majority of the film appeared accurate and well-defined.

I saw no shimmering or jaggies, and edge haloes remained absent. Print flaws also caused no concerns.

Bury went with a mix of amber, yellow and teal. That was fine for the movie’s visual design, so I found the hues to seem appropriate.

Blacks were dense and deep, and shadows fared well. Low-light shots delivered appropriate delineation and clarity. All in all, this became a satisfying presentation.

I also felt pleased with the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack of Bury. A solid soundfield, it just barely lacked the ambition to reach “A”-level.

Not surprisingly, the mix came to life best during the violent sequences. Various elements emerged around us and made sure that we felt as though we were part of the action.

Even during more passive sequences, the film offered a good soundscape. Music showed nice stereo presence, while environmental elements popped up in logical, natural locations.

Some directional dialogue manifested along the way, and the track panned well. Although the mix only soared on occasion, it still formed a solid sense of atmosphere.

From start to finish, the flick boasted excellent audio quality. Speech was crisp and concise, with good intelligibility and no edginess.

Music sounded bright and dynamic, and effects were very strong. They demonstrated fine clarity and accuracy, and the mix also featured positive bass response. This was a consistently engaging track.

No extras appear on the disc.

Although I don’t think it reinvents the genre, We Bury the Dead brings a zombie tale more focused on human drama than violent thrills. Buoyed by a strong lead performance from Daisy Ridley, it becomes a good variation on this well-worn theme. The Blu-ray offers solid picture and audio but it lacks bonus features. Expect a fine addition to this particular strain of horror film.