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We Bury the Dead (2024) movie poster

Characters & Themes

We Bury the Dead (2024) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2024 · 95 mins · English
Echo score 85
JustWatch #450 2
Directed by
Zak Hilditch
Starring
Daisy Ridley, Brenton Thwaites, Chloe Hurst, Kym Jackson, Matt Whelan, Mark Coles Smith

Following a devastating military experiment that claims the life of her husband, Ava joins a specialized unit tasked with recovering remains. Determined to find him, she soon discovers a horrifying anomaly: the bodies she’s burying begin to exhibit signs of life. As she investigates, Ava uncovers a disturbing truth about the experiment and the unsettling reality of her mission.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch We Bury the Dead (2024)

Where can you watch We Bury the Dead? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hulu, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

We Bury the Dead Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of We Bury the Dead (2024), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Ava Newman

    played by Daisy Ridley

    An American physiotherapist who volunteers with an Australian military effort to retrieve and dispose of bodies. She travels north across Tasmania with a fellow volunteer, confronting personal trauma and the pull of her husband Mitch, who was away on business. Ava is practical, determined, and willing to risk herself to protect others as she survives the ordeal and seeks a way back to normal life.

    • 🗡️ Brave
    • 💔 Heartbroken
    • 🧭 Resilient
  • Clay

    played by Brenton Thwaites

    A fellow volunteer who teams up with Ava after they find a motorcycle and decide to travel across the island. He is motivated by proving himself and supporting his family, revealing vulnerabilities about his own relationships. Clay forms a strong bond with Ava, offering companionship and courage as they navigate danger and loss.

    • 🛡️ Loyal
    • 🧭 Practical
    • 💪 Determined
  • Katie Harris

    played by Chloe Hurst

    Riley's wife, who becomes undead after the detonation. She is pregnant at one point and later appears as a corpse awakened by the events. Katie's presence fuels Riley's obsession with unfinished business and his tragic arc, culminating in a haunting confrontation with Ava.

    • 🧟 Undead
    • 💞 Connected
    • 🌀 Unfinished business
  • Riley

    played by Mark Coles Smith

    A lone soldier who rescues Ava from danger and acts as a temporary foil to the main duo. He harbors a fixation on his late wife, researches undead behavior, and becomes violent when his expectations are challenged. Riley's actions reveal the fragile line between humanity and desperation in a world overrun by the dead.

    • 🧭 Obsessed
    • 🗡️ Violent
    • 🧪 Curious
  • Mitch

    played by Matt Whelan

    Ava's husband who was on a business trip when the disaster struck. He is revealed to have cheated on Ava before dying, which compounds Ava's sense of betrayal and sorrow. Mitch's memory and the fate of their relationship linger as Ava and Clay try to rebuild their lives amidst the chaos.

    • 💔 Betrayed
    • 🪦 Dead
    • 🕊️ Remembrance

Last updated: February 05, 2026 at 07:35

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Setting

Where and When Does We Bury the Dead Take Place?

The setting of We Bury the Dead (2024): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

Tasmania, Hobart, Woodbridge

The story unfolds on the island of Tasmania after a catastrophic detonation off its eastern coast destroys Hobart and devastates coastal towns. The wreckage stretches across rural and abandoned urban spaces, with survivors moving through ruined stations, roads, and remote areas like Woodbridge. The setting emphasizes a harsh, desolate landscape where the living must navigate the consequences of the disaster while facing the returning undead.

  • ❄️ Post-apocalyptic
  • 🗺️ Tasmanian landscape
  • 🧭 Island survival

Last updated: February 05, 2026 at 07:35

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3 major themes

We Bury the Dead Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is We Bury the Dead (2024) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    Survival drives the plot as Ava and Clay traverse Tasmania to stay ahead of the undead and secure safety. The narrative places emphasis on resourcefulness, quick decisions, and the harsh realities of a world where the dead can awaken. The journey across decimated towns and abandoned facilities highlights human resilience under extreme pressure.

  • Relationships

    The story probes fragile relationships strained by loss and infidelity. Ava's marriage to Mitch fractures under the weight of unmet expectations and Mitch's betrayal, while Ava forms a bond with Clay that tests loyalties. The tension between love, fault, and responsibility underlines many of the characters' choices and motivations.

  • Redemption

    The undead arc is tied to unfinished business and the possibility of repentance, even beyond death. Riley's obsession with his deceased wife and his belief in forgiveness frame a grim reflection on what it means to be truly alive. The ending—with a living baby born amidst the ruins—hands a glimmer of new life and potential redemption to the survivors.

Last updated: February 05, 2026 at 07:35

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Character & theme questions

We Bury the Dead Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about We Bury the Dead (2024): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story takes place in Tasmania, specifically on the island's eastern coast. The catastrophic detonation destroys Hobart and devastates coastal towns, with survivors navigating through ruined stations, roads, and remote areas like Woodbridge. The setting emphasizes a harsh, desolate post-apocalyptic landscape.

  • tasmania
  • hobart
  • woodbridge
  • setting
  • australian location
Q2

What kind of world do the characters live in?

The characters inhabit a post-apocalyptic Tasmania devastated by a military experiment that caused a catastrophic detonation. The world is characterized by destruction, death, and the emergence of undead threats. Survivors must navigate abandoned urban spaces and rural areas while facing constant danger from the returning dead.

  • post-apocalyptic
  • survival
  • undead
  • disaster world
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

The movie explores three primary themes: survival, which drives the characters to make quick decisions and demonstrate resourcefulness in a harsh world; relationships, which are strained by loss and infidelity particularly through Ava's fractured marriage; and redemption, which ties the undead arc to unfinished business and the possibility of repentance, culminating in a ending that offers a glimmer of new life.

  • themes
  • survival
  • relationships
  • redemption
  • motifs
Q4

Who is the main character Ava?

Ava Newman is an American physiotherapist who volunteers with an Australian military effort to retrieve and dispose of bodies after the catastrophic detonation. She is practical, determined, and motivated by finding her husband Mitch, who was away on business when the disaster struck. Throughout the story, she confronts personal trauma while forming a bond with fellow volunteer Clay.

  • ava newman
  • main character
  • daisy ridley
  • protagonist
Q5

Who is Clay and what role does he play?

Clay is a fellow volunteer who teams up with Ava after they find a motorcycle and decide to travel across Tasmania together. He is motivated by proving himself and supporting his family, revealing vulnerabilities about his own relationships. Clay forms a strong bond with Ava, offering companionship and courage as they navigate danger and loss.

  • clay
  • brenton thwaites
  • supporting character
  • volunteer
Q6

What happened to Ava's husband Mitch?

Mitch was Ava's husband who was on a business trip when the catastrophic detonation occurred. He died during the disaster, but it is later revealed that he had cheated on Ava before his death, which compounds her sense of betrayal and sorrow. His memory and the fate of their relationship linger as Ava tries to rebuild her life amidst the chaos.

  • mitch
  • husband
  • death
  • infidelity
  • betrayal
Q7

Who is Riley and what motivates him?

Riley is a lone soldier who rescues Ava from danger and acts as a temporary companion. He harbors a deep fixation on his late wife Katie Harris, who became undead after the detonation. Riley researches undead behavior and becomes violent when his expectations are challenged, revealing the fragile line between humanity and desperation in the post-apocalyptic world.

  • riley
  • soldier
  • katie harris
  • obsession
  • undead research
Q8

What does the ending represent thematically?

The ending carries themes of redemption and new life. While Ava finds closure for her husband and confronts the harsh reality of the world she inhabits, the discovery of a healthy newborn born amidst the ruins symbolizes hope and potential redemption. This bittersweet conclusion offers a glimmer of new life despite tremendous loss.

  • ending
  • baby
  • new life
  • redemption
  • bittersweet
Q9

How do relationships drive the characters' choices?

The story probes fragile relationships strained by loss and infidelity. Ava's marriage to Mitch fractures under the weight of unmet expectations and his betrayal, while her bond with Clay tests loyalties and offers emotional support. Riley's obsessive connection to his undead wife Katie fuels his violent actions and tragic arc, showing how grief and love can distort reality in extreme circumstances.

  • love
  • grief
  • loyalty
  • betrayal
  • emotional bonds
Q10

Why is the movie classified as both thriller and horror?

The film combines thriller and horror elements through its constant threat of violence from the undead and the psychological unraveling of characters. The horror emerges from the unsettling concept of buried bodies exhibiting signs of life and the disturbing reality of the mission. The thriller aspects come from the steady pacing, survival stakes, and tension surrounding character motivations, particularly Riley's volatile behavior.

  • thriller
  • horror
  • genre
  • tension
  • undead threat

Movie threads

More Movies Like We Bury the Dead, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes We Bury the Dead tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Grief-Fueled Survival Horror movies like We Bury the Dead

Where personal loss and a terrifying threat become inextricably linked. If you liked the intense mix of personal tragedy and horror in We Bury the Dead, explore these movies where characters grapple with profound loss while facing monstrous threats. These films share a heavy emotional weight and a dark tone, blending survival horror with deep psychological trauma.

  • grieving
  • harrowing
  • tense
  • desolate
  • oppressive
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow protagonists navigating a dangerous, often apocalyptic world while simultaneously processing a deep personal loss. The search for a lost loved one or the burden of guilt drives the plot, with the external horror serving as a manifestation of their internal pain. The resolution often involves a bittersweet acceptance or a fragile new beginning forged from immense sacrifice.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their powerful fusion of the horror genre with the emotional depth of a grief narrative. They share a high intensity, a dark and oppressive tone, and a focus on how trauma shapes survival. The experience is defined by its heavy emotional weight and the tension between despair and the will to live.

Bittersweet Apocalyptic stories like We Bury the Dead

Finding fragile moments of hope and meaning in a broken world. Discover movies similar to We Bury the Dead that explore bleak futures where characters find bittersweet resolution. If you appreciated the film's mix of ruin and fragile hope, these selections feature steady pacing, heavy themes, and endings that are poignant rather than purely bleak.

  • bittersweet
  • desolate
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • harrowing
  • ethereal
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, desolate
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters traversing a ruined world, often on a specific mission that holds deep personal significance. The journey is marked by loss and hardship, but is punctuated by discoveries that reaffirm life's value—a new connection, a symbol of innocence, or a chance for redemption. The conclusion acknowledges the tragedy but leaves room for a fragile, ambiguous hope.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films that share a specific emotional blend: the coexistence of profound sadness and resilient hope. They feature a steady, contemplative pace that allows for character reflection, a dominant dark tone alleviated by moments of light, and a bittersweet ending feel that resonates long after the credits roll.

Every angle

We Bury the Dead (2024) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about We Bury the Dead in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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