Daisy Ridley takes on a gritty role far from her Star Wars days in the new zombie film We Bury the Dead, directed by Zak Hilditch. The movie, released today via Vertical, introduces unique twists like teeth-grinding sounds for the undead. Hilditch drew inspiration from personal grief to craft a fresh take on the genre.
Zak Hilditch's eighth feature, We Bury the Dead, arrives in theaters with a distinctive approach to zombie lore. The film follows Ava Newman, played by Daisy Ridley, as she travels to Australia to recover her husband after a military accident. Soon, the dead begin rising, marked by an eerie sound of grinding teeth that sets them apart from typical undead.
Hilditch explained the sound design's origins in a Variety interview: "When I was delving into the zombie world, we didn’t have all the money in the world, so how do I make these things unique? This idea of growing agitation, what does that look and sound like? It sounds like teeth grinding to me." The sound team embraced the concept pre-production, creating an aching effect that audiences found visceral, sometimes requiring toning down for palatability.
The director's personal loss fueled the story. "It was a personal initial kernel of an idea," Hilditch said, reflecting on packing up his childhood home after his mother's passing. "When it comes to grief, realizing there is no silver bullet or a special guidebook to get you through." This intimate exploration of loss adds depth to the horror.
Ridley's involvement elevated the project. Hilditch called her attachment "unbelievable," noting she was the first actor approached and quickly signed on via Zoom. "The whole movie rests on Ridley’s shoulders, and she absolutely crushed it," he said. He praised her eclectic tastes and commitment, allowing her to transform the script into a compelling performance.
Hilditch, an Australia-based filmmaker, aims to blend ordinary people in extraordinary situations across genres but sees this as a one-off zombie tale. "I only wanted to do it if I was able to say something new or interesting," he noted, confident in subverting expectations while honoring zombie traditions.
