Danny and Michael Philippou, the filmmaking duo behind the hit horror film Talk to Me, return with Bring Her Back, a chilling tale that amps up the unsettling vibe of its predecessor, though with a slightly more chaotic approach. This film dives deep into the horrors of parental grief and its destructive consequences. With intense violence and psychological torment, Bring Her Back serves up enough tension to keep audiences on edge, even if its narrative lacks the focus and clarity of Talk to Me.
The plot kicks off with siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) finding their father dead in a bathtub. Now orphaned and with nowhere else to turn, Andy, just shy of 18, pleads with a social worker named Wendy (Sally-Anne Upton) to let him stay with his blind younger sister. Wendy agrees, placing them in the care of Laura (Sally Hawkins), a woman whose grief over the death of her own daughter haunts her every move. Along with her son, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), whose strange behavior raises suspicions in Andy’s mind, they seem to present a perfectly normal foster home. However, it isn’t long before Andy and Piper start to realize something is very wrong. A series of eerie events points to the fact that Laura’s home is far from the haven it seems.
Co-written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, Bring Her Back cranks up the weirdness with a series of twisted, strange occurrences that force viewers to question what’s real. The psychological manipulation begins right from the opening scene, as the siblings are drawn deeper into Laura’s web of lies and manipulation. A key plot point revolves around Andy’s bedwetting, which he hides from his sister and tries to fix by washing his sheets. This seemingly odd and awkward occurrence, however, is part of a larger scheme by Laura to gaslight Andy, attempting to prove that he is an unfit guardian for Piper. As the siblings’ story progresses, they uncover a horrifying truth that gradually comes into sharper focus.
At the same time, Bring Her Back introduces unsettling elements that might feel like filler to some. A creepy foreign cult ritual, which pops up multiple times throughout the film in grainy videos, adds to the eerie atmosphere but doesn’t necessarily contribute to the film’s core narrative. The supernatural elements, while effective in creating shock moments and scares, ultimately feel like distractions. The film is at its most chilling when it focuses on the emotional and psychological turmoil of the siblings, particularly the growing tension with their foster mother. Laura’s manipulation and mental games are terrifying enough on their own, and the movie would have been better off without leaning too heavily on extraneous supernatural scares.
Bring Her Back shares some thematic similarities with Talk to Me, including sibling dynamics, disturbing self-harm, and the presence of unexplained, otherworldly forces. However, this film’s closest spiritual counterpart might be Ari Aster’s Hereditary, where the death of a loved one tears apart the fabric of normalcy and plunges the characters into a world of grief, fear, and torment. The parallels between the two films are clear, especially when considering the sibling bond and the way parental loss becomes the catalyst for psychological and emotional unraveling. Where Talk to Me explored the dangers of viral internet culture and the thrills of supernatural dares, Bring Her Back digs into the darker aspects of grief and parental abuse. The film’s examination of foster care and the grim reality of children being subjected to abusive, manipulative environments adds a layer of real-world horror to the story, setting it apart from typical supernatural fare.
As the story progresses, the sense of dread grows, with the film’s pacing becoming more relentless and frantic. This frenetic energy keeps the audience on high alert, with barely a moment to catch their breath before the next horrifying moment arrives. Unlike Talk to Me, which was a more focused and straightforward thriller, Bring Her Back leaves room for more ambiguity and confusion, making it a more challenging film to follow at times. While this approach keeps the viewer on edge, it can also result in a lack of coherence, as too many ideas are thrown at the audience without fully exploring their potential.
Despite the occasional narrative disarray, Bring Her Back is undeniably successful in creating a sense of dread and keeping the audience engaged. The gore and violence, though graphic, are not gratuitous but rather serve to enhance the movie’s dark atmosphere. One particularly memorable scene involving a bloody knife adds a shock value that lingers long after it’s over. As a director, Danny Philippou shows his skill in crafting moments of tension and terror, and his ability to build suspense keeps the audience hooked even as the plot becomes more erratic.
Sally Hawkins, in her role as Laura, delivers a chilling performance, expertly shifting from warm, nurturing mother figure to something far more sinister and unhinged. Her portrayal of a grieving mother, whose tragic past informs her actions, is both unsettling and tragic, making Laura a complex antagonist. Hawkins’ ability to balance these extremes is one of the film’s strongest elements, creating a foster mother figure that feels both familiar and deeply disturbing.
Billy Barratt, as Andy, carries much of the emotional weight of the film, particularly in his moments of vulnerability and the tender relationship he shares with his sister. His portrayal of a teenager desperate to protect his blind sibling from a world that seems to be closing in on them is heartfelt and relatable, even amidst the chaos of the film’s horror. Sora Wong’s portrayal of Piper, the blind sister, adds a unique dynamic to the story. Piper’s struggle to understand what’s happening around her and her constant need to decide who to trust—her brother or their increasingly erratic foster mother—adds an additional layer of tension to the film.
The cinematography, handled by Aaron McLisky, is another highlight of Bring Her Back. Known for his sleek and stylized approach to filmmaking, McLisky brings a visual language to the film that complements its unsettling tone. His camera movements are fluid and disorienting, often creating a sense of unease as the characters move through their eerie surroundings. The detailed close-ups, especially during moments of violence, allow the audience to fully immerse themselves in the visceral nature of the horror, making each gruesome scene all the more impactful.
In terms of style, Bring Her Back bears some resemblance to the work of filmmakers like Ari Aster and Robert Eggers, whose films Hereditary and The Witch, respectively, explore familial grief and trauma through a lens of supernatural horror. Like these films, Bring Her Back doesn’t shy away from depicting the psychological toll that loss and grief take on the characters, though it blends these themes with a more overtly supernatural and violent narrative. The movie’s atmosphere of dread and hopelessness is palpable, and it often feels as if there is no escape for the characters from the horrors that close in around them.
Despite its flaws, Bring Her Back succeeds in delivering a genuinely frightening experience. The film’s reliance on shock tactics, combined with its exploration of complex emotional and psychological themes, makes it a compelling watch for fans of horror films that delve into the darker corners of human experience. While it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as Talk to Me, it’s still an impressive follow-up that shows the Philippou brothers have more tricks up their sleeves and plenty of horror to unpack.
Ultimately, Bring Her Back is a movie that thrives on its ability to unsettle and disturb. While it doesn’t have the same tight narrative structure as its predecessor, it makes up for it with its raw emotional power and willingness to explore the depths of grief, trauma, and the horrors that can arise from broken homes. It’s a disturbing, violent ride that leaves a lasting impression, even as it occasionally loses its way in the chaos of its own narrative. Fans of psychological horror and those who appreciate a film that doesn’t shy away from discomfort will find Bring Her Back a memorable and effective experience.
