We all have unresolved issues with someone. There are things we need to say, or wish we’d said. But how far would you go to get closure with someone you loved?

In the new film We Bury the Dead, which opens on January 2, a woman is moved to go to the site of a disaster. She does it because her husband was at the site where it occurred. She does it to get answers. But, mostly, she does it to get closure.

The film is set in a world where the United States was testing a new weapon that broke containment and hit Tunisia. It instantly wiped out the population of the island. It leads to a great deal of fear and outrage, but also a need for help.

Ava (Daisy Ridley) is one of the many volunteers who arrive there to help with the cleanup. That specifically means removing the dead inhabitants. Except, they didn’t all die right away. That makes the efforts slow, as the military must first clear areas, then escort those who arrive to help. But Ava is motivated by something personal.

It turns out when the accident happened, her husband was in a coastal region. Now, she’s desperate for some answers and some closure. She makes a connection with Clay (Brenton Thwaites), a fellow volunteer, who agrees to help her break from the group and search for her husband. But the journey is more difficult and perilous than either expects.

We’ve seen plenty of this type of disaster film. The virus wipes out the population, turning some into what seem very much like zombies. But, as in all these type of disaster films, the biggest threat often turns out to be fellow human survivors who have nothing left to lose. That’s the case here in this quick-moving horror film.

Ridley is the most recognizable performer and serves as the anchor. She’s a talented actress who does a nice job in the role. Her Ava is one of the few characters with depth and a backstory that’s explored. And she carries the narrative through a few different harrowing sequences.

Writer/director Zak Hilditch does a nice job of creating a setting and atmosphere. A couple of the sequences are chilling, and the look of the undead works decently, too. But there are some wild swings in the story. One in the closing sequence will certainly remind audiences of 28 Years Later, but it feels a bit more out-of-place here.

There aren’t enough scares and tension built into these sequences. Additionally, the characters mostly feel too thin. While I appreciated Ridley, even Ava’s character and backstory lacks some depth. That helps the whole thing to feel a little underwhelming.

This isn’t a bad film. It’s an interesting premise and has some interesting moments. But it doesn’t capitalize on all its potential. Still, for fans of the genre it will be a nice change up from some of the holiday releases.

We Bury the Dead opens in theaters on Friday, January 2.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.