Bring Her Back (2025) Review

From the Directors of Talk To Me

Bring Her Back is a visceral and unsettling psychological horror from the Australian filmmaking duo Danny and Michael Philippou, creators of 2022’s Talk To Me. The film expertly draws viewers into a dark exploration of loss, grief, and the devastating lengths to which love can drive us. With its clever writing, relatable characters, and palpable sense of dread, Bring Her Back will leave even the most seasoned horror fans shaken, disturbed, and perhaps heartbroken.

After the loss of their father, teenage siblings Andy and Piper (Billy Barratt and Sora Wong) are thrust into the care of Laura (Sally Hawkins), an unorthodox foster mother with a mysterious past. As Laura’s sinister intentions begin to surface, the siblings must navigate their grief and trauma amidst the eerie atmosphere of their new home, where a mute young boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) is also residing. As the boundaries between reality and madness blur, Andy and Piper are forced to confront the warped depths of Laura’s obsession, which is influenced by cryptic ritual footage.

Bring Her Back masterfully weaves a narrative that combines brutal intensity with deep discomfort. The Philippou twins strike a delicate balance between subtlety and impact, forming a film that’s as psychologically complex as it is distressing. The violence is on another level, largely due to the involvement of children in its most merciless and traumatic moments. With its portrayal of gaslighting and the desperate measures people will take to cope with loss, Bring Her Back makes for a viewing experience that’s both haunting and unforgettable. 

The young actors deliver remarkable performances that add depth and emotional resonance to the film. Billy Barratt and Sora Wong shine as siblings Andy and Piper, bringing a strong bond and vulnerability to their characters that makes their struggles heart-wrenching. Meanwhile, Jonah Wren Phillips is chillingly effective as Oliver, infusing the character with an unnerving aura that heightens the film’s tension whenever he’s on screen. While the child actors bring a raw authenticity, the standout performance goes to Sally Hawkins as Laura, a complex and terrifying villain who embodies the darkest aspects of maternal love. Hawkins, mostly known for playing wholesome characters, delivers a masterclass in manipulation, effortlessly conveying Laura’s pain, desperation, and hypocrisy, making her both captivating and loathsome. Her performance is on par with Toni Collette’s in Hereditary, though only time will tell if she garners awards recognition.

Bring Her Back’s cinematography is a highlight, brilliantly utilizing settings and practical effects to create an immersive ride. The precise framing and composition, along with details like the grainy VHS aesthetic, enhance the atmosphere. The Philippou brothers’ show-don’t-tell approach and subtle sound design build tension through understated cues. A particularly ominous moment occurs when Oliver’s missing person poster blows away, heightening the sense of chaos, only to land beside him later, alerting police to the horrors that have unfolded. An earlier scene featuring a cantaloupe will also surely spark a reaction. These suspenseful misdirections throughout keep audiences on edge. 

Overall, Bring Her Back is an original, creative and gory horror film that lingers long after the credits roll. The Philippou brothers’ unflinching exploration of trauma, grief, and manipulation cements their reputation as pros of the psychological horror genre and makes them a duo to watch out for. The film effectively elicited some of the most lively, squirm-inducing theatre reactions this year, a testament to the actors’ and filmmakers’ efforts. Not for the faint of heart, Bring Her Back’s haunting themes and imagery make it the year’s most disturbing horror experiences to date.