Bring Her Back

Review by Ryan Michael Painter

In June 2023, Australian Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou gifted the world Talk to Me, a genuinely terrifying supernatural film that shook up the film industry to the tune of $92 million at the worldwide box office.

Two years later, the duo returns with Bring Her Back, a horror film that stars Sallt Hawkins as Laura, a foster parent, who takes in nearly adult Andy (Billy Barratt) and his younger, visually impaired sister Piper (Sora Wong).

Bring Her Back (A24)

104 Minutes, Rated R

Written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman
Directed by Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou

Synopsis

A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

Like Talk to Me, Bring Her Back is centered on characters suffering devastating loss. Recently Laura lost her daughter and Andy and Piper have not only lost their parents but are also facing the possibility of being separated from each other.

While far from ideal, there is hope that the situation will be beneficial for all involved. Unfortunately, it only takes Andy accidently letting the cat of the house and the appearance of Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), Lucy’s mute nephew who also lives with her, to signal that something strange and unseen is going on.

For all its horrific imagery, I’d argue that Talk to Me was an exercise in restraint. The audience is given a glimpse of the grotesque would that exists in between but never forces the audience to turn away. Bring Her Back isn’t nearly as subtle. Some of the film’s most disturbing moments are allowed to linger. This combined with the fantastic sound design is the stuff that nightmares are born from. If you’re not already uncomfortable with the sound of people chewing, you will be.

Not that the script looks to explain everything. There is still a lot left to the imagination. The film starts with a scene of torture and ritual. A scene that is returned to when Laura watches a damaged VHS as some kind of guide. Even when the purpose of the ritual is revealed there isn’t a full sense of understanding. You can work out what is important but there is still an ample amount of mystery.

Bring Her Back is the sort of film that you take with you when you leave the theater. It will haunt you with its visual and leave you uneasy with questions that can’t be definitively answered.

If the film has faults, they aren’t instantly noticeable. Hawkins is always tremendous. Phillips, and Wong are both early frontrunners for young performer of the year. Barratt is less flashy, but equally as good. The art design is compelling. While not a sequel to Talk to Me, this could easily exist in the same world. It’s not a place I might want to live. I do enjoy watching from a safe distance.

Having made only two films, I want to try and avoid using hyperbole when referencing Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou. I am comfortable saying that their first two films are utterly fantastic. I’m incredibly excited to see what comes next.

Bring Her Back is in theaters May 30 and stars Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Jonah Wren Phillips, and Sora Wong.

And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.

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