We Bury the Dead: A Zombie Movie with a Character-Driven Approach
The new film “We Bury the Dead” has been marketed with a tagline that reads, “After a catastrophic military disaster, the dead don’t just rise — they hunt,” which immediately suggests a thrilling zombie movie experience. However, as the official synopsis reveals, the film takes a more character-driven approach, focusing on the story of Ava Newman, played by Daisy Ridley, as she navigates a post-apocalyptic world.
According to the film’s writer-director, Zak Hilditch, the idea for the movie was inspired by his mother’s long battle with cancer, which adds a layer of depth to the narrative. The story follows Ava, an American living in California, who travels to Tasmania to join the Body Retrieval Unit in search of her husband, Mitch, who went missing after a military experiment gone wrong.
The film’s cinematographer, Steve Annis, has given the movie an appropriately stark look, while the composer, Chris Clark, has created a sparse but haunting score. The sound design by Duncan Campbell is also noteworthy, particularly in scenes where the undead grind their teeth, creating a highly unsettling atmosphere.
A Character Study with Limited Thrills
While the film’s character-driven approach is commendable, it ultimately results in a movie that lacks the thrills and excitement typically associated with zombie movies. The dialogue is often bland, and the scares are few and far between. Daisy Ridley, who plays Ava, is left to carry the film, but even her performance can’t elevate the so-so material. Her scenes with Mark Coles Smith, who plays a soldier named Riley, are some of the most compelling moments in the film, but they are not enough to save the movie from its overall lack of tension and excitement.
According to the review, “We Bury the Dead” is a film that tries to do something more soulful with the zombie genre, but ultimately falls short. With a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes, the movie feels like a missed opportunity to explore the characters and their relationships in more depth. Despite its flaws, the film is still worth watching for fans of the genre, but it may not offer anything new or exciting for viewers looking for a thrilling zombie movie experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “We Bury the Dead” is a character-driven zombie movie that lacks the thrills and excitement of other films in the genre. While it has some nice touches and a game effort from Daisy Ridley, the movie ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to explore the characters and their relationships in more depth. For more information, you can read the full review Here
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