Bring Her Back

Like in anything, the discovery of new talent is something we all look forward to. I remember when I cared about finding new music—how exciting it was to discover a new band and then sharing it with everyone I knew. Now, I do that with filmmakers. Too often, things can feel stale or repetitive, with many movies playing it safe rather than telling a story with an edge. In 2024, two brothers from Australia got everyone’s attention with their film Talk To Me, a movie that wasn’t afraid to be different. Now, a year later, Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou are back with their new film Bring Her Back—and let me tell you, there is nothing stale or safe about this one.

Life has been rough for Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong), and it’s about to get tougher with the death of their father. Not quite 18, Andy and Piper are placed in foster care. For Piper, a woman named Laura (Sally Hawkins) eagerly accepts her into her home. At first, Andy isn’t invited, but after insisting they’re a package deal, Laura agrees to take him in as well. Laura seems like a loving person—she already has a ten-year-old boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) in her care—but never judge things by their surface. Laura takes a strange interest in Piper, and it becomes even more unsettling when we learn that Laura once had a blind daughter, just like Piper. It starts to feel like she’s trying to replace her. The truth, though, is even more sinister.

Written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, Bring Her Back is more of a slow burn than Talk To Me. And while it deals with grief, like many horror films, the way it handles that theme here makes it stand out from the pack. A lot of that has to do with the elevated character development—you are interested and invested in the characters’ survival and well-being. Add to that the fact that the Philippou brothers constantly keep you guessing. They never seem to follow the path you think they’re going to take.

Bring Her Back is a visceral experience that explores the pain of grief in all its forms. It will disturb you just as much as it moves you. I genuinely think this is one of the best horror movies you’ll see this year. It proves that the Philippou brothers’ first film was no fluke, and that they’re now “must-see” filmmakers for anything they touch. Bring Her Back doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares. Instead, it uses shocking moments of violence and other unsettling tools to raise your heartbeat. The fear comes from the sense of dread that creeps in slowly and keeps the tightest of grips on you.

The cast is excellent—led by Hawkins, who is completely convincing in her role. Wong and Barratt are great as siblings, with strong chemistry that makes their relationship believable and touching. The performances make you care about the characters. But let’s be honest: you come to a horror film to squirm, and Bring Her Back has no shortage of those moments.

It also proves that the Philippous aren’t afraid to get weird or take risks. They don’t rest on their laurels; instead, they deliver a movie that not only punches you in the gut but also makes your skin crawl all while making you feel things you weren’t expecting to feel, even in a horror movie.