With Bring Her Back, Aussie duo Danny and Michael Philippou show they’re far more than one-trick ponies. The harrowing tale of grief and its ensuing desolation is far more bleak than you may expect. It’s a film that’ll stick with you long after the credits roll.
Talk to Me set the horror genre alight in 2022. The debut feature from ‘Radelaide’ twins, YouTubers known as RackaRacka, left moviegoers stunned. Its vile body horror, supernatural themes, and overall sense of dread made it a viral success and box office smash hit all the same.
Article continues after ad
Of course, a sequel was quickly greenlit, but rather than playing it safe with an immediate follow-up, the Philippou Bros. branched out. Bring Her Back is now their second project, and while it shares many of the same hallmarks with its sickening violence and otherworldly frights, it comes as a surprising pivot.
Where Talk to Me was an easy share, a film you could recommend to just about anyone, Bring Her Back isn’t. It’s a far more dire journey devoid of hope, one that leaves you with that indescribable dirty feeling you just can’t wash away. Yet despite its narrower focus, it’s another excellent bit of horror that proves the directing duo is here for the long haul and that everything they put out is well worth your attention.
Article continues after ad
Article continues after ad
What is Bring Her Back about?
Filmed in the twins’ home state of Adelaide, Australia, Bring Her Back is effectively a close-up on grief and how it manifests in different ways for all of us.
Having recently lost her daughter, Laura, played by the indomitable Sally Hawkins, takes custody of two new children, Andy and Piper. Upon arriving at Laura’s house, however, Andy begins to notice a few cracks in the seams.
What really happened to Laura’s kid? Who is this other mute child hanging around the property? Why is there a white circle surrounding the house? And what’s with the crazy VHS tape collection?
Article continues after ad
These are questions we’re left to ponder as the violence ensues and the terror takes center stage. Looking to complete a demonic ritual at any cost, Laura is hell-bent on getting her way.
Will the circle be unbroken?
At the heart of this film is a cycle of domestic abuse. It’s in presenting this theme that Bring Her Back is its most powerful, yet most uncomfortable. We see multiple instances of violence against children. Some younger, some older, but all children nonetheless. It’s hard to watch, and at times borders on excessive, but it’s in pushing to be better, to overcome their trauma, that we connect with the film’s characters.
Article continues after ad
Article continues after ad
Older step-brother Andy, played by Billy Barratt, and his younger half-sibling Piper, portrayed by Sora Wong, are the standouts. Yes, the Oscar-nominated Sally Hawkins is bloody brilliant too, really, she’s in peak form here, but the rest of the young, relatively inexperienced cast rise to match her.
We feel their grief, we share their unsettled thoughts, and we’re deeply moved by their unique bond. When harm is brought to one of them, it’s hard not to think of the despair it brings to the other. And trust me, they’re placed in plenty of traumatic situations.
Article continues after ad
The first half of the film, however, doesn’t leave out a bit of fun. For Aussies in particular, there’s a lot to love about the authenticity here. Not only do The Veronicas get a moment, but even true blue icon Nollsie tags in. Growing up hearing this music blaring over the school speakers when recess was ending made this film a real trip.
Article continues after ad
DexertoBeing in Australia, our preview screening hosted a number of cast and crew members.
Much like Talk to Me, there’s also a degree of the supernatural on display throughout Bring Her Back, but it’s the way the directors leave certain threads up to interpretation that makes the experience all the more frightening.
Article continues after ad
Not every part of Laura’s gruesome scheme is spelled out for the audience, and that’s why it lingers in our minds. Our curiosity gets the better of us. We can’t help but ponder how this all came to be.
Witnessing a horrific ritual unfold is only part of it though. Much of the tension stems from Oliver, a mute child with an insatiable appetite. Why the heck is this kid so hungry all the time? Oh… oh, that’s why.
Article continues after ad
Piecing the clues together only makes matters more dire as the movie rolls on. There’s truly no silver lining, no subtle undertones of optimism. It’s a grim tale designed to make you unsettled, and boy does it accomplish that with flying colors.
Article continues after ad
Unconstrained body horror
While it never quite matches the sheer spookiness of Talk to Me, it doesn’t feel as though Bring Her Back is trying to. Rather than jump scares, this outing is about building tension to reach an often disgusting crescendo.
Article continues after ad
There’s a lot happening here, and not a lot of it pleasant. One particularly grotesque sequence reminds us why we learn from a young age how to use cutlery the right way. Vile sound design compounds an already stomach-turning visual to really get your heart racing in one of the more memorable scenes of body horror in quite some time.
A24Witnessing Oliver’s journey is a test of endurance more than anything.
Let’s just say, there was a fair bit of foot traffic in our preview screening after that moment, but that was far from the only instance. It’s an uncomfortable experience most of the way through, with a few disturbing highlights to keep you up at night.
Article continues after ad
Bring Her Back review score: 4/5 – Great
When the credits rolled on Bring Her Back, my first thought was just how bold a pivot it was for the Philippou brothers. Of course, it shares plenty of the same DNA as their first outing on the big screen, but it’s an entirely different journey.
Article continues after ad
With that said, while it certainly won’t be for everyone, it’s a fantastically made piece of cinema that, if you’re willing, will drag you straight down to hell with it.
Article continues after ad
