Bring Her Back: Horror That Haunts the Heart

Bring Her Back marks the ambitious second feature film from Australian twin directors Danny and Michael Philippou. Known for the breakout success of Talk to Me (2022), the duo returns with a moodier, more restrained horror experience rooted in emotional trauma and psychological dread.

The story follows adolescent siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong), who enter foster care after their father’s sudden death. They move into the home of Laura (Sally Hawkins), an outwardly caring former social worker who lost her blind daughter in a tragic accident. It soon becomes clear that Laura’s intentions are far from caring and authentic.

Accompanied by an eerie, silent foster child named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), Laura’s chilling plan slowly unravels around suppressive rituals and the suffocating atmosphere of grief.

Sally Hawkins delivers a standout performance, transforming her familiar sweetness into something malevolent and unsettling. Critics celebrate how she weaponizes niceness into menace, blending warmth and quiet desperation into her chilling role.

Barratt and Wong, especially Wong, who plays a visually impaired actress named Piper, bring emotional authenticity and nuanced sibling chemistry.

Critics highlight the film’s strengths in psychological tension and thematic depth, including a slow-burning dread and a bold portrayal of grief as obsession. At the same time, some feel it doesn’t quite match the visceral thrills of the brothers' debut, with narrative gaps and pacing issues noted, especially in the middle act, which may cause some viewers to lose track.

With a roughly 89% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75/100 Metascore, Bring Her Back stands as a divisive yet undeniably memorable addition to modern horror.