Ready to be creeped out? Zak Hilditch's new zombie flick, We Bury the Dead, is here to redefine your definition of 'undead' – and it all starts with a sound that'll make your skin crawl.
Hilditch, the writer and director, has crafted a zombie experience that's less about the visual gore and more about the visceral dread. He knew he didn't have a blockbuster budget, so he focused on creating something truly unique. And what's the secret ingredient? The unsettling sound of grinding teeth.
"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?" Hilditch says. "This idea of growing agitation, what does that look and sound like? It sounds like teeth grinding to me."
This isn't just any sound effect; it's the signature of Hilditch's zombies, designed to send shivers down your spine. The sound team was so excited about this particular element that they were already experimenting with it before filming even began. Hilditch even had to tone it down to make it palatable for audiences!
But here's where it gets controversial... In We Bury the Dead, the undead aren't just shuffling corpses. They're a symphony of grinding teeth and mounting dread. This film takes us on a journey with Ava Newman, played by Star Wars alum Daisy Ridley, who travels to Australia to find her husband after a military accident, only to find the dead rising.
And this is the part most people miss... The film isn't just about zombies; it's about grief. Hilditch was inspired by the loss of his mother, using the film as a way to explore the complexities of mourning.
"When it comes to grief, realizing there is no silver bullet or a special guidebook to get you through," he explains. "When my mum passed, it was my job to pack down the family house that I grew up in, which she died in. It was weirdly cathartic having something physical to do. As a filmmaker, there was a part of me thinking, ‘I’m going room to room and making these discoveries.’ There’s something quite intimate yet surreal about it. I thought that there was something worth mining in terms of grief.”
Daisy Ridley's presence is a game-changer. Hilditch says she brought an essential layer of humanity to the film. He was thrilled when she was the first actress to receive the script. He was amazed by her ability to embody the character and bring his words to life. Hilditch says "the whole movie rests on Ridley’s shoulders, and she absolutely crushed it.”
But wait, there's more! Hilditch isn't just a horror director; he's a storyteller. He loves exploring ordinary people caught in extraordinary situations. He's not sure if he'll return to the zombie genre anytime soon, but he's always on the lookout for stories that offer something new and interesting.
What do you think? Does the sound of grinding teeth send a chill down your spine? Are you intrigued by the idea of a zombie movie that explores grief? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
