During my 15-plus years as a film critic, I’ve accumulated a fair number of cinematic pet peeves, and one that particularly frustrates me is poor exposition. Even the most dreadful visual effects can’t undermine my engagement in a scene faster than one character overly detailing a situation or relationship to another. This approach often feels like spoon-feeding the audience and can come off as patronizing. More importantly, it indicates a lack of creativity: instead of cleverly imparting essential information, filmmakers often choose to lay it all bare.
Bring Her Back
Release Date: May 30, 2025
Directed By: Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou
Written By: Danny Philippou & Bill Hinzman
Starring: Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Sally Hawkins, Jonah Wren Phillips, Stephen Phillips, and Sally-Anne Upton
Rating: R for intense disturbing bloody violent content, some gruesome imagery, graphic nudity, underage drinking and language
Runtime: 99 minutes
It’s this personal grievance that has led me to appreciate the narrative skills of Danny and Michael Philippou. One aspect I adore about Talk To Me, their debut feature, is its resistance to over-explaining the origin of the ceramic hand that links an individual to the dead. They effectively embrace the “show, don’t tell” philosophy, resulting in another must-watch horror film with their sophomore release, Bring Her Back.
Previously, the twin filmmakers blended possession horror with the theme of illicit party drugs. This time, the narrative is much darker, yet remains captivating. The film delves into extreme grief (which, as you can guess, makes it less “fun” than its predecessor), and it is utterly spellbinding. Exceptional performances bring complex characters to life, and despite the dangerous predicaments that the protagonists face, the film fosters a ghastly intrigue about the malevolence kept shrouded in mystery.
Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) are step-siblings who open the film grappling with the traumatic discovery of their father’s dead body (Stephen Phillips) in the shower. Andy hopes to take custody of his visually impaired sister, but he isn’t old enough to do so for another three months, forcing them to accept placement with a foster parent. Laura (Sally Hawkins), a former counselor who has just endured the loss of her daughter, is more than willing to take them in.
From the beginning, Laura’s preferential treatment of Piper is peculiar, but things escalate when the siblings meet their new foster brother Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) – who is selectively mute, bears various injuries, displays violent tendencies, and is confined to his room when alone. Andy’s aim is to wait out his time until he can have his sister back, but Laura has her own agenda, knowing that Andy’s potential guardianship hinges on her opinion.
Bring Her Back is a mystery that demands your attention, and it’s highly rewarding.
The Philippou siblings have successfully transitioned from a high-concept debut to a meticulous mystery, showcasing their adept storytelling skills. Bring Her Back keeps you guessing about Laura’s intentions and execution of her plans, while suspense builds through scenes reminiscent of VHS-style snuff films with supernatural elements, alongside Oliver’s increasingly bizarre behavior. The film’s emotional depth is enriched by excellent character development on both sides of the narrative.
When I mention navigating poor exposition, this is what I mean: when Andy and Piper hold serious discussions, a simple mention of “Grapefruit” signals their request for unfiltered honesty. There’s no need for an explanation, and the audience intuitively understands their connection, allowing us to relate to their increasingly perilous circumstances.
Talk To Me is scary, but Bring Her Back steps things up in a big way with its grimness and phenomenal practical horrors.
Alongside its heightened grimness, grotesque imagery is amplified. While I won’t forget the harrowing scene with Riley in Talk To Me, where he repeatedly injures himself, it pales in comparison to some of the visuals in Bring Her Back. This film is undoubtedly not for the faint-hearted. If horror isn’t your usual genre, prepare to witness disturbing imagery that lingers. For seasoned fans, regardless of your horror experience, this film will undoubtedly push your limits.
Having already detailed one shockingly intense scene I experienced at an event, I’ll refrain from disclosing more about the gruesome, visceral sequences awaiting viewers, but the craftsmanship in practical effects is outstanding. There are displays of violence and mutilation that appear alarmingly realistic, triggering your instinct to flee. Bravo to all departments involved, from makeup to cinematography to sound design, but special praise goes to Jonah Wren Phillips, who delivers exceptional and brave performances as a child actor in his second film. His portrayal is nothing short of shocking.
Sally Hawkins is magnificent, and the Philippou brothers once again get tremendous work from young actors.
The youngest cast member takes on a considerably different role than his peers, yet all deliver outstanding performances with the emotionally charged material. Andy and Piper’s dynamic is well-reflected in the script, but Billy Barratt and Sora Wong breathe life into their relationship, making their sibling bond authentic and heightening the stakes. Amidst all the chaos, Barratt ascends into emotional depths as Andy confronts trauma from his difficult relationship with their father, while Wong impresses with her genuine talent in her debut performance.
Sally Hawkins, meanwhile, embraces a role unlike any seen before, further solidifying her status in genre cinema alongside her remarkable work in Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water (albeit in a completely different manner). We witness Laura embody the nurturing mother that Andy and Piper need, allowing them to drink after their father’s funeral, but Hawkins’ manic energy shifts to reveal a darker side fueled by grief, creating a complex portrayal of duality that is truly remarkable.
In keeping with the notion that a second film serves as a proving ground, demonstrating that filmmakers aren’t one-hit wonders, Bring Her Back is an undeniable triumph. Danny and Michael Philippou are the real deal, and their success following Talk To Me resonates like Ari Aster’s journey from Midsommar post-Hereditary, or Jordan Peele’s transition from Get Out to Us. To put it frankly, they create horror that pulls no punches, showcasing a clear vision that I eagerly anticipate seeing evolve in the years to come.
