Bring Her Back is gnarly, gripping, and incredibly unsettling. After the smash success of their first feature, Talk to Me, Danny and Michael Philippou return to elevate the genre once again with Bring Her Back. One of the most admirable aspects of the Philippous’ filmmaking is their command of horror. Rather than leaning into flashy genre theatrics, they favor a slow burn that pulses with visceral, wince-worthy sequences.
It’s been a long time since I’ve heard an audience audibly react this much to what was on screen—myself included. With how saturated the horror genre is today, I’m thrilled Bring Her Back delivers visuals that feel genuinely surprising and fresh.
I also appreciated how the film respects the audience’s intelligence. You can easily imagine a different version of this story – one bloated with exposition and heavy-handed motifs – but the Philippous’ avoid that trap. By forgoing complicated lore-building, they’re able to focus on character and emotional tension in a brisk 99 minutes.
Many recent horror films have explored grief, but Bring Her Back feels far less hollow thanks to its outstanding lead performances. Sally Hawkins is the anchor here – raw, grounded, and riveting. She modulates seamlessly between charisma and cruelty, all with a restraint that makes her portrayal even more harrowing. The young cast delivers as well, particularly Billy Barratt as Andy, who carries much of the film’s emotional weight with surprising nuance.
Bring Her Back won’t be for everyone – it’s bleak, upsetting, and hard to watch. But that’s exactly what a horror film should be. In a sea of sameness, the Philippou brothers are taking real risks and giving the genre a much-needed jolt. Excited to see what comes next from these filmmakers.
