We Bury the Dead is a 2025 Australian survival thriller with strong horror elements. The film blends zombie mythology with emotional drama and psychological tension. It is directed and written by Zak Hilditch.
The cast includes Daisy Ridley, Mark Coles Smith, and Brenton Thwaites. The story follows a grieving woman who joins a body retrieval unit after a military disaster, only to discover the dead may not stay dead.
The film is a standalone original story, not based on a book or franchise. It premiered at SXSW in March 2025 and releases theatrically in the U.S. on January 2, 2026, distributed by Vertical, followed by Australia and New Zealand on February 5, 2026.
We Bury the Dead Age Rating
We Bury the Dead is rated R by the MPAA for strong violent content, gore, language, and brief drug use. This rating reflects frequent disturbing imagery, intense horror violence, and mature themes centered on death and grief. The film’s tone is bleak and emotionally heavy, with repeated scenes involving corpses, reanimation, and graphic injuries. While not a fast-paced action horror, the sustained dread and realistic presentation make it unsuitable for children and most teens.
Violence & Peril
Violence is strong and often graphic. The film features dead bodies, decomposing corpses, and reanimated humans who suffer visible injuries. Some scenes include bloody wounds, damaged flesh, and close-up shots of bodies being handled or examined. The reanimation process is unsettling rather than explosive, creating constant tension and fear. Military-related destruction and implied civilian deaths add to the bleak atmosphere. The horror is sustained and psychological, not brief or mild.
Language
Strong language is used throughout the film. Characters frequently use profanity during stressful and frightening situations. The language reflects panic, grief, and desperation. There are no known slurs, but the overall verbal content is clearly adult and intense.
Mature Themes
The film explores heavy themes including mass death, unresolved grief, trauma, and moral ambiguity. The idea of loved ones returning in altered, disturbing forms is emotionally distressing. Brief drug use appears in a limited context. There is no sexual content or nudity, but the emotional weight and existential focus make the film very mature. Smoking may also be visible in stressful scenes.
Is We Bury the Dead Suitable for Teens?
Ages 12 and under: Not suitable. The graphic imagery, frightening concepts, and constant dread make this film inappropriate for children.
Ages 13–16: Not recommended. Even mature teens may struggle with the gore, disturbing visuals, and heavy themes of death and loss.
Ages 17+: Suitable for older teens with guidance. Older teens who enjoy serious horror may handle the film, but parental discussion is strongly advised.
Final recommendation: Best suited for adults and older teens aged 17 and up.
What Parents Can Do
- Prepare teens for disturbing imagery and emotional themes related to death and grief.
- Discuss how the film uses horror as a metaphor for loss and trauma.
- Encourage conversation after viewing about fear, morality, and coping with catastrophe.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for We Bury the Dead?
A: The film is rated R for strong violent content, gore, language, and brief drug use.
Q: Is We Bury the Dead appropriate for teens?
A: It is not recommended for most teens due to graphic horror and heavy emotional themes.
Q: How violent is We Bury the Dead?
A: The film contains graphic images of corpses, reanimation, and bloody injuries.
Q: Does the film contain scary or disturbing scenes?
A: Yes. The horror is constant and psychological, with many unsettling moments.
Q: Is there sexual content in the movie?
A: No sexual content or nudity is present.
Q: Where can I watch We Bury the Dead?
A: The film releases in U.S. theaters on January 2, 2026, with international releases following.