✅ Bring Her Back (2025) is a chilling and visceral horror film from the visionary Philippou brothers, following up on their success with “Talk to Me.” This A24 production delves into the darkest corners of grief and obsession, as two foster siblings uncover a terrifying occult ritual designed to resurrect the dead. With a standout performance from Sally Hawkins and a relentless atmosphere of dread, “Bring Her Back” is a psychological and body horror experience that leaves a lasting, unsettling impression, cementing the Philippou brothers’ place as exciting new voices in the genre.

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7.033/10

Bring Her Back

Director: Michael Philippou

Writers: Bill Hinzman, Danny Philippou

Stars: Sally Hawkins, Sora Wong, Billy Barratt

Country: Australia, United States of America

Genres: Horror

Languages: English

Overview: Following the death of their father, a brother and sister are introduced to their new sibling by their foster mother, only to learn that she has a terrifying secret.

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Bring Her Back (2025) – Movie Overview & Analysis-BollyFlix

Movie Details 

• Full Name: Bring Her Back (2025)
• Language: English
• Budget: $17.5 Million
• Revenue: Approx. $22 Million (Worldwide, as of late June 2025)
• Runtime: 104 Minutes (1 Hour 44 Minutes)
• Release Dates:
  • May 29, 2025 (Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Russia)
  • May 30, 2025 (United States)
• Genres: Horror, Thriller, Psychological Horror
• Cast: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, Mischa Heywood, Olga Miller
• Directors: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
• Screenplay: Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
• Studios & Producers: Causeway Films, A24, RackaRacka (Producers: Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton)
• Voice Cast: Not Applicable
• Animation & Style: Not Applicable

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Plot Summary

“Bring Her Back” plunges into a dark tale of grief, obsession, and the supernatural. Following the sudden death of their father, 17-year-old Andy (Billy Barratt) and his blind younger half-sister Piper (Sora Wong) are placed in foster care. They arrive at the secluded home of Laura (Sally Hawkins), an eccentric former counselor still consumed by the loss of her own blind daughter, Cathy, who drowned in the backyard pool. Andy quickly becomes unsettled by Laura’s erratic behavior, her unsettling favoritism towards Piper, and the strange, mute boy Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) who also lives there. As Andy grows suspicious, he discovers that Oliver is demonically possessed, and Laura is attempting a terrifying occult ritual to resurrect Cathy. This ritual involves feeding the corpse of the deceased to a possessed host, who then regurgitates it into a newly dead body, mirroring the original death. Laura manipulates and gaslights Andy, isolating him from Piper, as she prepares to drown Piper in the pool to complete the ritual and bring Cathy back. Andy must race against time to expose Laura’s horrifying plan and save his sister from becoming a sacrifice in a desperate, unholy act of grief-fueled madness. The film is a visceral and psychological journey into the depths of trauma and the lengths one might go to defy death.

Cast & Crew

“Bring Her Back” features a compelling and committed cast, with **Sally Hawkins** delivering a truly unsettling and career-defining performance as Laura. Her portrayal of a grieving mother driven to extreme, occult lengths is both chilling and deeply tragic, carrying much of the film’s psychological weight. Billy Barratt as Andy provides a grounded and relatable perspective as he navigates the escalating horrors of his new foster home, effectively conveying his mounting fear and desperation. Newcomer Sora Wong as the blind Piper is also commendable, bringing vulnerability and a crucial innocence to the dark narrative. Jonah Wren Phillips is intensely unsettling as Oliver, the mute, possessed child, whose performance relies heavily on physicality and disturbing presence. The film is directed by the **Philippou brothers (Danny and Michael Philippou)**, who follow up their acclaimed “Talk to Me” with another horror film that delves deep into psychological trauma and visceral scares. Their direction extracts raw, believable performances, particularly from Hawkins, and maintains a relentless sense of dread throughout.

Critical & Audience Response

“Bring Her Back” has received generally **positive to strong reviews from critics**, with many praising it as a worthy follow-up to the Philippou brothers’ hit “Talk to Me.” Critics highlighted the film’s **unflinching exploration of grief and its disturbing, visceral horror elements**. **Sally Hawkins’ performance** as the grief-stricken Laura received widespread acclaim, often described as a tour de force that anchors the film’s unsettling atmosphere. The **sound design** was also frequently lauded for its ability to create an intense and discomforting experience without relying solely on jump scares. While some reviews noted a potentially slower burn in the first act compared to their previous work, or occasionally convoluted plot twists, the film was largely commended for its ability to **build palpable dread** and deliver **genuinely shocking and unsettling scenes** that “stick with you.” Audiences, particularly horror fans, responded well to its raw brutality and the emotional depth embedded within its horrific premise. It’s considered a mature and impactful horror film that pushes boundaries both emotionally and visually.

Direction & Cinematography

The **direction by Danny and Michael Philippou** is a defining strength of “Bring Her Back.” Building on their distinctive style from “Talk to Me,” the brothers create a chilling and oppressive atmosphere that gradually escalates into full-blown horror. They expertly blend psychological torment with visceral, often shocking, imagery, maintaining a tight grip on the audience’s nerves. The direction is patient yet relentless, allowing the dread to seep in before unleashing its terrifying moments. They demonstrate a keen understanding of pacing in horror, ensuring that both the slow-burn tension and the explosive scares land with maximum impact. Aaron McLisky’s cinematography plays a crucial role in enhancing this atmosphere. McLisky uses a subdued color palette and often relies on natural or low lighting to create a sense of unease and isolation. His camera work is intimate and immersive, often placing the viewer uncomfortably close to the characters, amplifying their fear and desperation. The visuals are gritty and unflinching, serving the film’s commitment to realism in its depiction of horror, making the disturbing events feel all the more palpable and immediate.

Music & Background Score

The music and sound design in “Bring Her Back” are meticulously crafted to maximize its unsettling impact. **Cornel Wilczek’s score** is less about traditional melodies and more about creating a pervasive sense of dread and unease. The background score often features dissonant, atmospheric textures, unsettling drones, and subtle, creeping sounds that gradually build tension. It works in tandem with the phenomenal sound design, which is arguably one of the film’s strongest technical elements. Mundane sounds like dripping water, creaking floorboards, and strained breathing are amplified to create a palpable sense of anxiety and claustrophobia. When the film descends into its more horrific moments, the sound becomes cacophonous and jarring, contributing significantly to the visceral terror. This minimalist yet highly effective approach to music and sound ensures that the audience remains immersed in the characters’ horrifying experience, with every subtle auditory cue contributing to the film’s relentless and deeply disturbing atmosphere.

Visuals & Special Effects

“Bring Her Back” employs its visuals and special effects to deliver a **raw, practical, and deeply disturbing horror experience**. The film largely favors **practical effects** over CGI for its more gruesome and body horror elements, which enhances the visceral impact and realism. When depicting injuries, transformations, or the results of the occult ritual, the effects are unsettlingly convincing and designed to elicit a strong physical reaction from the audience. The visual style is often dark, muted, and claustrophobic, complementing the grim narrative. The Philippou brothers effectively use lighting and camera work to create an atmosphere of dread, allowing shadows and limited visibility to heighten suspense. The film doesn’t shy away from graphic imagery when necessary, but it’s always purposeful, serving the narrative’s themes of grief and the grotesque consequences of defying nature. This commitment to tangible, unsettling visuals, rather than overt spectacle, ensures that the film’s horror truly gets under the viewer’s skin and contributes significantly to its impactful scares.

Editing & Screenplay

The **editing by Geoff Lamb** in “Bring Her Back” is instrumental in crafting the film’s relentless tension and unsettling pace. The cuts are precise, contributing to the feeling of mounting dread and the disorienting nature of the horrors unfolding. Lamb skillfully balances moments of slow-burn psychological tension with abrupt, shocking sequences, ensuring that the film’s 104-minute runtime feels taut and impactful. The editing maintains a sense of unease, allowing scenes to linger just long enough to maximize their discomfort. The **screenplay, co-written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman**, delves deep into the psychological toll of grief and trauma, using a terrifying occult ritual as its central catalyst. The narrative is character-driven, focusing on the strained dynamics within the newly formed foster family and Laura’s descent into madness. While some critics noted that the plot can become intricate with its twists, the script excels at building a pervasive sense of dread and exploring dark familial bonds. It’s a bold screenplay that doesn’t shy away from disturbing themes and graphic content, demonstrating the Philippou brothers’ commitment to visceral storytelling while weaving in an emotional core related to loss.

Positives / What Works

“Bring Her Back” excels in its **relentless and pervasive atmosphere of dread**, which builds steadily throughout the film. **Sally Hawkins delivers an extraordinary, unsettling performance** that is a true highlight and central to the film’s impact. The **Philippou brothers’ direction** is confident and visionary, maintaining a tight grip on the narrative and delivering genuinely shocking and visceral horror sequences. The **sound design is exceptional**, immersing the audience in the terrifying soundscape of the house and the ritual. The film explores themes of grief and trauma with a raw, unflinching honesty, making the horror feel emotionally resonant. Its use of **practical effects** enhances the disturbing nature of the gore and body horror, making it feel very real and impactful. The compelling performances from the young cast, particularly Billy Barratt and Jonah Wren Phillips, also contribute significantly to the film’s success.

Negatives / What Doesn’t Work

While largely praised, some criticisms of “Bring Her Back” include its **slow-burn pacing in the initial act**, which might test the patience of viewers expecting immediate scares. Some reviewers found the **plot to be convoluted** in places, particularly with the mechanics of the ritual and the various twists introduced, which could slightly detract from the narrative’s clarity. The film’s **intense and often graphic content** makes it a difficult watch for sensitive viewers, and it’s certainly not for everyone. While its emotional core is strong, the film sometimes prioritizes visceral horror over deeper character development for the supporting roles beyond Laura. The extreme nature of some scenes could also be perceived as gratuitous by some, despite the filmmakers’ intent.

Final Verdict / Conclusion

“Bring Her Back” is a powerful, uncompromising, and deeply unsettling horror film that solidifies the Philippou brothers as formidable voices in the genre. Led by a tour-de-force performance from Sally Hawkins, the film plunges into the dark psychological depths of grief and obsession, delivering both chilling atmosphere and visceral scares. It’s a film that demands attention, pulling no punches in its exploration of trauma and the grotesque consequences of defying death. While its intense nature might not be for all audiences, those who appreciate a raw, character-driven horror experience with exceptional technical execution will find “Bring Her Back” to be a genuinely impactful and memorable entry into the canon of modern horror. It’s a haunting experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

Movie Rating

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