We Bury the Dead

As with actors such as Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, Daisy Ridley seems to have spent her time since starring in the most recent _Star Wars _trilogy (2015 – 2019) seeking out challenging roles that put ever-increasing distance between her and that behemoth franchise. This has resulted in strong performances in films such as Sometimes I Think About Dying (Rachel Lambert, 2023), Magpie (Sam Yates, 2024), and now, We Bury The Dead, a thoughtful study in grief given the trappings of a horror film. When an American weapon of mass destruction accidentally detonates off the coast of Tasmania, it kills all life while leaving the island otherwise intact. Ava (Ridley) volunteers to join the huge clean-up effort, hoping to find her husband, lost in the accident. However, as some of the dead wake up, changed, Ava must struggle with the conflicting emotions and danger that result.