The Philippou Brothers (Talk to Me: 2022) gives us the 2025 horror film Bring Her Back. A film both gut wrenching and heart breaking, no easy feat, but the Brothers Philippou pull it off masterfully. This is a “grip the arms of your chair” tenseness that will alternatively scare the pants off you, while simultaneously making you want to cry.
By the end of the film, it feels like foster parents are something you would not wish on your worst enemy.
The Bring Her Back Story
After their father dies from an overdose, a brother and sister are sent to a foster home. Once there, things get worse for the two as the foster mother tries to bring back her dead daughter. Scary rituals ensue.
The Cast
Billy Barratt is Andy.
Sally Hawkins is Laura.
Jonah Wren Phillips is Oliver.
Stephen Phillips is Phil.
Sora Wong is Piper.
Sally-Anne Upton is Wendy.
Mischa Heywood is Cathy.
Cast is King/Queen
Hawkins kills it here. This actress is in a league of her own. I fell in love with her in The Shape of Water. She disturbed me greatly in this film. Billy Barratt and Jonah Wren Phillips bring their characters to living, breathing life with apparent ease. The real treats here are Sora Wong as Piper and Sally Anne Upton as Wendy. Wong is a true neophyte to the world of acting, and she shines here like a pro. Upton, not a novice by any means, makes her small role really count. Kudos to the entire cast for bringing their very best game to the film.
Let’s Talk Bring Her Back
Michael and Danny Philippou direct this disturbing and scary look at death and life. *Danny co writes this one with Bill Hinzman (Talk to Me and Talk 2 Me).* Their characters strike a deep chord with audiences in this film. Laura; the 20 year counselor with Social Services, clearly loses her sanity when her daughter Cathy dies.
Cue the veer off into left field where she decides some Russian mystical ritual is in order. Things shift into their version of “Theatre of Grand Guignol,” where visceral horror is the order of the day. The claret is spilled liberally. Some of the more horrific scenes are nigh-on impossible to watch. There is a scene with a large kitchen knife and a slice of melon that had me looking through my fingers in horror.
The Philippou Brothers have a winning “trifecta” of behind the scenes talent that shines here. DP Aaron McLisky, Editor Geoff Lamb and composer Cornel Wilczek have killed it here. The end result being that the film looks and sounds great. Evoking feelings and fears that pretty much overwhelm.
FX
The SFX, VFX and what look to be practical FX feel amazingly realistic. One almost cringes at many of the things we see Laura do. The scenes with Ollie are practically unwatchable. Kudos to Michael Max Hughes and Tim Riach for their hard work.
Bring Her Back Works
The stunts slam home all those injuries and interactions between the main, and not so main, characters. That car stunt was spectacularly done. Judd Wild and Talayna Moana Nikora for putting all the stunts together with meticulous care. All combined, the film works at a high level of freak out horror and nauseating body horror.
The Verdict
Bring Her Back earns a full 5 out of 5 stars. Danny and Michael Philippou cross every T and dot all the i’s. Nothing falls out of place in this film. From the creepy Russian “how to” videos to the unhinged, yet clever, Laura and her “son” Ollie, this one will disturb you. It may even promote a few bad dreams after watching this brilliant supernatural horror film. It is streaming on Prime right now. Go and watch it. Be prepared for the special brand of horror that the Philippou manufacture.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.