Screen Australia

We Bury the Dead (2025): Daisy Ridley Searches for Her Spouse in This Zombie Flick

Posted on by Jack Drees

© 2025 – Vertical Entertainment

“We Bury the Dead” is written and directed by Zak Hilditch (1922, These Final Hours) and stars Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Chaos Walking), Mark Coles Smith (Last Cab to Darwin, Pawno), and Brandon Thwaites (The Giver, Gods of Egypt). This film is set after the U.S.’s accidental detonation of an experimental weapon off the coast of Tasmania. At first, many people die, only for a sizable amount to become undead. From that point, the story centers around a woman named Ava, who is assigned to retrieve bodies and help soldiers maintain control of Tasmania as zombies rise.

Before we begin this review, I would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year! “We Bury the Dead” is the first new film I saw in 2026. The first new release of the year is always an interesting watch. Not only because to some degree, it sets a tone for what the movies could bring for the rest of the year, but also because, per usual, January is a 31 day schlockfest for cinema.

I did not know what to expect with “We Bury the Dead.” I missed out on the trailers or spots related to the film, but I was delighted to see Daisy Ridley in the starring role. The actress may not have done anything as big as “Star Wars” this decade, but it is nice to see such a talented performer star in a smaller production like this. As for my thoughts on the film, I found it to be amusing. There are very few adjectives I feel could accurately describe my experience of watching this movie, but I walked out of “We Bury the Dead” won over in more ways than one.

For starters, the movie has a great hook. It kind of has a “Godzilla” feel with a big explosion to kick things off. It took me back to 2014 when I saw that particular “Godzilla” film in the theater for the first time. We find out a weapon goes off in Tasmania, tons of people die. Right from the getgo, the movie has my attention. If you read my top 10 WORST movies list of 2025, you would know that I have seen a few flicks last year that had me hooked in the first minute or two only to have the rest of the film fail to live up to what happened at the beginning. That is not the case with “We Bury the Dead.” While I cannot say the film gets significantly better than what we see at the start, it maintains a sense of quality throughout.

The story, despite having zombies in it, maintains a surprisingly grounded vibe. If you take out the zombie element, then this is simply a movie where a wife is looking for her husband. If you are looking for zombie action in this film, it does exist, though it does feel rather minimal. It essentially happens when the story allows it, but I have no complaints.

Going back to Daisy Ridley, she gives a soulful, engaging performance as Ava. I always had an appreciation for her acting chops and have found all of her portrayals to be solid, even with the couple that I have seen in the era following her “Star Wars” outings. This one is no exception. I found Ridley to blend perfectly with the film’s somewhat minimalist feel while still serving as an occasional beam of emotional power. Ava is the heart and soul of this film and Ridley is a good pick to play her.

“We Bury the Dead” also happens to be Brenton Thwaites first movie role in years. He had a brief rise to fame in the 2010s with films like “The Giver” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” I am glad to see he is continuing to find work, and frankly, work that is superior to those recently mentioned films. Thwaites has proven that he is talented, but his resume does not quite live up to his potential. “We Bury the Dead” film may not be as recognizable as “Pirates” or as expensive as “Gods of Egypt” or based on something as positively received as “The Giver…” Say what you will on the final results of that last one… Like those previous films, Thwaites does his best here as Clay. Though as I say that, his acting chops this time around match the film’s commitment to quality.

“We Bury the Dead” is a creative flick that makes the most of its smaller budget. That budget sometimes shows, but a smaller film like this one can result in a purer experience. This is most evident in the film’s shot selection. As I write this review, I look back at some of my favorite shots of the film and a couple that come to mind are when the camera’s up high, aiming down at a road, and we see characters passing through or whatever has been left behind. From time to time, the film’s shots look like something out of an art museum. While the film is set in Tasmania, it is actually shot in Australia, and I admire the locations that were chosen for each scene. Each one looks as sweet as the last.

The film also has quite the ending. I obviously will not spoil the ending, though it is worth talking about to a degree. The film’s ending plays a lot into its constant thread of relationships. By the time we get to it, the scene feels earned and I felt for Ava based on what was encountering in the moment. There is a scene around the middle of the film between the two main characters, Ava and Riley (Coles Smith) that sees the two discussing the relationships with their spouses, sharing things they have in common, and perhaps hinting what life could be like should they have a future together. This scene ultimately plays a role in what happens to be the film’s very last moments, which allow things to close on a satisfying note. “We Bury the Dead” is not the best zombie movie, nor is it the best movie about relationships. However, when it comes to both those ideas, the film is much better than I expected it to be despite it having a decent cast. Will I remember this movie five years from now? That is hard to say. But do I regret seeing it? Absolutely not.

In the end, “We Bury the Dead” is one of those movies that gets better the more I think about it. It is not a perfect film. But I do think it makes the most of its budget, introduces some likable characters, and has some really nice cinematography. If you are looking for the scariest, most bonkers, or even the most fun zombie flick ever made, you might want to look elsewhere. Though I was surprised by how engaged I was by this film’s handling of relationships. I do think a rewatch of this film is in order at some point. While I cannot say I loved the movie, it would be wrong to suggest that it is in any way incompetent. If you get a chance, go see it. I am going to give “We Bury the Dead” a 7/10.

“We Bury the Dead” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “Primate!” Stay tuned! The 2026 reviews are only getting started! But if you want relive 2025 for a moment or two, be sure to check out my end of the year countdowns where I discuss my worst films of the year, most disappointing films of the year, and best films of the year!

Also, little bit of housekeeping, Scene Before’s annual awards show, the Jack Awards, are back on February 8th! The nominations will be revealed January 25th. In less than a month, it will be time to honor the finest that 2025 has offered in cinema once more.

If you want to see this upcoming awards show and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “We Bury the Dead?” What did you think about it? Or, what movies are you looking forward to in 2026? I did not make a most anticipated list this year, but I am dying to see Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” Based on the film’s marketing so far, the film looks fantastically epic, and I am beyond happy to confirm that I already have my ticket to see the film in IMAX 70mm later this year. Let me know what you are looking forward to down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Talk to Me (2022): A Great Horror Concept and Story That Go Hand in Hand

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Talk to Me” is directed by twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, also known for their YouTube channel RackaRacka, which is dedicated to horror comedy. This film stars Sophie Wilde (Eden, You Don’t Know Me), Alexandra Jensen (Beat, Frayed), Joe Bird (First Day, Rabbit), Otis Dhanji (June Again, Aquaman), Miranda Otto (The Thin Red Line, War of the Worlds), Zoe Terakes (Wentworth, Nine Perfect Strangers), Chris Alosio (Surviving Summer, The Messenger), Marcus Johnson (The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, Power Rangers: Ninja Steel), and Alexandria Steffensen (Eden, Neighbours). This film follows a group of friends who become obsessed with conjuring spirits using an embalmed hand. When things go too far, they must deal with the calamity that ensues.

My goto social media platform, if you can call it that, is YouTube. Despite its growing problems and greed in recent years, it remains one of the best sites on the Internet for sharing content. In fact, the story of how “Talk to Me” can likely trace back to the directors’ days of doing horror comedy on YouTube. I love how one’s activity and commitment to a simple platform people utilize for cat videos, or in my case, elevator rides and entertainment-related content, can one day lead to a big feature film like this. I have heard a little bit about this film before going into it, particularly nothing but good things at the time. Although it was a bit of a mystery as to how I would end up taking it.

Overall, I thought “Talk to Me” is both a clever concept and quite a good movie. When it comes to horror films, one of the common things that get in the way of characters happen to be their own curiosities. Sometimes as a viewer, it kind of takes me out of the movie when said curiosity happens because I can easily see a scare coming once said curiosity comes up. Something like that may occasionally make the film a bit less scary than I would wish it to be. But the way the curiosity is handled in “Talk to Me” is perfect. The curiosity ultimately regards everyone’s obsession with a hand that allows them to talk to spirits. This allows for some interesting interactions not only amongst the social group, but as for the one holding the hand, they have their individual experience with whoever is on the other side. I admire how the script handles the variation across the board. Despite being a horror film, the variation allows for moments that do not feel completely scary, and despite causing some occasional tonal shifts, they never feel jarring.

I am not going to pretend that this is is the scariest horror title I have ever seen. But that does not mean it is bad. For one, the creeps this film emits, are effective. When they are there, they work. But I was mostly interested in how this film handles its characters, concept, and how those things mesh together. In fact, when it comes to the overall intrigue of the film, I was immersed from scene one. “Talk to Me” may have my favorite hook I have seen of any film I have watched in 2023. As soon as a particular action happens around the one to two minute mark, I was sold. I wanted more.

With the straightforward hook that effectively thwarts itself into the nitty gritty, it should not come as a shock that “Talk to Me” is perfectly paced, which definitely helps with the short runtime. It never overstays its own welcome. It just gets to killer and avoids filler. There is not a moment of this film where I felt outright tired or bored.

There are a number of characters in “Talk to Me,” so if you had to ask me who my favorite was, that would not be an easy decision to make. Although I must say the entire cast in this film gives it their all. Everyone had genuine chemistry and felt like they belonged in their roles. This film mostly centers around Sophie Wilde’s character of Mia, and she is excellently portrayed. Sophie Wilde is a young individual with only a few credits. Additionally, she is from Australia, where this movie is set and shot. I have no idea where her career will take her. Maybe she will end up in Hollywood, maybe not. But I am glad this movie put her on my radar because she is a talented actress. I think if she keeps things up, we could be talking about her a lot more in upcoming years. Other enormous standouts in the cast include Joe Bird (Riley), Alexandra Jensen (Jade), and Miranda Otto (Sue). That said, the rest of the cast, for the most part, is great too.

What makes the handling of this movie’s concept great is how it utilizes the large cast to their full potential. The effects of the movie do not just have to do those who interact with the hand themselves, but their connections with each other. In this film’s case, curiosity does not just kill the cat, it kills the clowder. And when the turmoil amongst the clowder ensues, it adds to the film’s overall intrigue.

I also kind of dig the end of the film. I am not going to spoil anything for those who have not seen it. But not only is it kind of eerie, kind of disturbing, but it is also clever. The final few minutes is a quite a chain of events that not only emit chills, but serve as a perfect conclusion for a number of the characters’ arcs.

When breaking down the idea behind “Talk to Me,” it is simple. But it does not mean it is not effective. This film is twisted, haunting, and at the same time, kind of weirdly heartfelt in select moments. At the end of the day, this is a movie about a bunch of teenagers who take a dare too far and perhaps appear to not know any better. Have I seen scarier movies? Absolutely. But from start to finish, I was hooked. I admired the connection between our world and the spirit realm if you want to call it that. And I would recommend watching this movie with the lights down. If you dare.

In the end, “Talk to Me” is a film that I feel I cannot share a whole ton about, but that is also why you have to see it. Not a beat a dead horse, this is not the scariest film I have ever seen despite how effectively everything is handled. This film kind of feels more disturbing than it is terrifying. There are one or two moments of the film where certain things play out that had me thinking I somehow had been hypnotized into joining someone’s cult. The characters are great, the script is really good, and the direction from the Philippou brothers is masterful. I hope to see more from these two down the road. I am going to give “Talk to Me” a 7/10.

“Talk to Me” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! If you enjoyed this review, why not check out my other ones? If you are still in on the Barbenheimer craze, I have you covered as I have my thoughts on both “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” now available for your reading pleasure! What did I think of this year’s biggest double feature? Click the links to learn more.

My next review is going to be for the brand new DCEU film, “Blue Beetle!” The cinematic universe may be on its last legs, but is this movie good enough to help this timeline stand on said legs? We shall see. Also coming soon, I have reviews coming for “Strays,” “Gran Turismo,” “Meg 2: The Trench,” and “Bottoms.” Stay tuned! If you want to see this and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Talk to Me?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite horror movie concept? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!