We Bury the Dead – A New Sub-Genre of Zombie Film

By:Dominic La-Viola

Zak Hilditch’s latest film “We Bury the Dead” creates a new sub-genre of zombie film. Focusing less on the premises of the dead and more on the living. 

The approach in which Hilditch takes on the film is similar to what we have seen before. Borrowing heavily from iconic work that has come before, like “The Walking Dead” and “Dawn of the Dead” film series. 

Although the one thing that truly separates this film from anything we have seen thus far is the fact that it’s not a zombie apocalypse. It’s merely an isolated event that is the fallout of a military operation gone wrong. There is no sense of outbreak, and no reason to believe that the virus will spread and infect others. 

I think “We Bury the Dead” might just be the first character-driven zombie horror film. Dare I say, an elevated zombie film. For nothing about this film feels like a traditional zombie movie. 

The film does take George A. Romero’s basic premise of zombie movies and follows the number one rule that is true in all his zombie films. The zombies are never the bad guys or the antagonists; people are. The zombies merely exist. 

Which is the same premise here, which really adds to the film’s depth and layers of it being a character-driven drama. Where on this isolated island, some of the dead don’t stay dead. Furthermore, not all of the undead are unhinged. 

The film takes a bold approach to change the way in which we not only see zombies but what zombies are. Giving them not only the ability to move at higher speeds, like in “World War Z”, but also to give them a consciousness of some sort. 

Up until this point, zombies have always been mindless creatures, acting on basic instinct.  To feed to survive and for whatever reason, their instinct was always to feed on humans as their first choice. 

As was in “We Bury the Dead”, we are offered an alternative to what folklore and movies have told us about the undead. We witness both the destructive and mindless undead. Wanting nothing more than to give into primal instinct, and we also see undead that for some reason, still have a heart and somewhat of a conscious. 

The film explores the idea that not all zombies are the same, that some still have their humanity and their sense of being. Which goes hand in hand with all the humans in the film. Offering the idea that some have the ability and purity that the disease can’t completely eradicate. While others are only as pure-hearted as society forces them to be. 

Offering an unique perspective on not only the zombie genre, but humans in general. I remember reading an article on a study once that talked about the popularity in zombie movies and shows, which was a direct link to how society was at the time.

 That people often gravitate towards zombie movies more, when society is chaotic and there is tension among the people, a discord in society. 

 Although with “We Bury the Dead” there feels to be more focused on the emotional connection and lack thereof between people and their significant others, rather than the world around them. 

 

Offering an even more obscure insight into the genre. For every character we really interact with, their actions are a direct correspondence of their significant other. 

Whether the situation is a positive or a negative offset due to the relationship they shared with their “person”. Truly elevating the film, to another level.  

From a technical perspective, the film is sound and on point. The shots are crisp and well executed. Something we normally wouldn’t see in a typical horror movie about the undead.

Offering some beautiful shots, using lightning in a way to not only convey emotion, but to set a tone and elevate the overall experience of the film. Making it very clear that this is not your typical horror film.

I love the way they light the scenes in which they’re indoors without power or a traditional sense of lighting. At no point do they try to force external, unrealistic lighting into the shot. They capture the shot, with the allowed lighting. Adding a sense of depth to the scene. 

Accompanied by a score that stands out for being pitch perfect. Offering an emotional guidance to the film’s story without being overly dramatic or intense. Giving off just the right amount of nuance to be recognized and appreciated, but not standing out for negative reasons.

At first, the pacing feels slow if you’re expecting a Romero-style zombie film. It wasn’t until about halfway through that I truly understood what it was I had been watching.

 A character-driven drama, with a backdrop of the undead. Which plays into a larger part of the story, weaving everything together perfectly. 

Offering us an elevated zombie film, one that goes beyond the traditional tale of a zombie apocalypse. Focusing on the characters who would drive them into the lions’ den, so to speak. Rather than just another film in which we watch as people try to escape it. 

Overall, the film is not what I expected it to be; however, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not at all.

I truly enjoyed this film and think it elevated the genre of zombie movies.  Taking what worked with “The Walking Dead”, where the focus was less on the zombies and people running for their lives and more so on creating great characters and making the zombies the backdrop. 

“We Bury The Dead” takes a popular concept, such as zombies, and expands on that. Creating something we never see, a character-driven story at the center of a zombie movie. 

Overall Rating: 3.5/ 5 Stars .