“Bring Her Back” Grips Without Scares

Bring Her Back (Danny Philippou/Michael Philippou, 2025) 3½ out of 5 stars

The Philippou brothers are back. The masterminds behind 2022’s Talk To Me, Danny and Michael Philippou, have returned to the directors’ chair and now bring us another disturbing horror film from down under. YouTubers-turned-horror-filmmakers, the Australian duo’s latest endeavor, Bring Her Back, features similar signature elements as their previous outing, but fewer surprises.

In the film, stepsiblings Andy (Billy Barratt, Blinded by the Light) and Piper (Sora Wong) move to a new home after the death of their father. Their new foster mother, Laura (Sally Hawkins, The Lost King) is overly excited to welcome Piper, a young blind girl, to their home, but reluctantly accepts the older Andy as a condition of getting Piper. Laura lives with one child already, the mysterious Ollie (Jonah Wren Phillips, How to Make Gravy), who has taken a vow of silence.

Andy and Piper notice that Laura has very particular rules, some seemingly overprotective, others downright barbarian. They also notice very strange behavior at night from both Laura and Ollie. Andy notices many things that Piper cannot, but when Laura’s behavior takes a turn for the worse, Andy takes it upon himself to protect his stepsister at all costs.

Right off the bat, the Philippou brothers work very hard on their characters. Before any horror elements are presented, the audience already feels connected with the main cast, who all turn in exceptional performances. A tragic opening event gives the viewer a lot of sympathy for Andy and Piper, deepening our connection to them.

The relationship between Andy and Piper is a main focus, and the chemistry between them flourishes. Andy is a natural protector of his stepsister, given her condition, and Piper trusts him wholeheartedly. What is truly heartbreaking is when others attempt to tear the two apart after all they’ve been through.

Sally Hawkins gives an amazing turn as Laura. Somehow, Hawkins is able to convey kindness, insanity, terror, and heartbreak all in one character. The sometimes warm and welcoming and other times awkwardly off-putting Laura ranges from comedic to unsettling to downright psychotic. Hawkins plays all of these roles extremely well, leading to a compelling, layered portrayal.

In addition to the great acting, Bring Her Back offers some very creative visuals. The cinematography is top-notch, with intriguing shot composition and unique camera angles. The sound design and editing also contribute to a well-rounded technical achievement.

While the characters, performances, and technical elements all shine, Bring Her Back nevertheless falters in two very important areas: horror and plot sequence. The film isn’t scary at all, though it does offer the Philippou brothers’ signature recipe of unsettling moments and brutal scenes. The most terrifying element of the film is an old videotape that depicts very frightening events, but sadly, the video is cut up and the whole sequence is never shown. It would be great to see this explored more.

The largest issue that keeps Bring Her Back from being truly exceptional is its plot choices. This is yet another case where the title of the film is a bit of a spoiler in and of itself. In addition to that, there is a reveal relatively early on that allows the audience to see exactly where the film is going. There are a few details that lend a bit of surprise, but most viewers will get the big picture and likely predict the conclusion far in advance.

Bring Her Back is a quality film that is very well-made but could have been even better. The character work, performances, and technical merit are undeniable, though more work is needed in terms of horror and plot for this to be a truly memorable, accomplished movie. In its current state, it’s still a compelling narrative with some unsettling moments and surprisingly deep themes. However, the revelation of far too many plot points early on and a lack of genuinely scary scenes does weigh the film down.

As a horror fan, I prefer Talk To Me, since the horror elements are more prevalent and the plot is more of a mystery right up until the end. Still, Bring Her Back is a much more character-focused project with deeper themes and more emotion throughout. Horror aficionados will likely also prefer Talk To Me, though other filmgoers will certainly find value in the strengths of Bring Her Back.

Matt Patti

Matt Patti has enjoyed voicing his opinions on films from a young age. He has lived in the Baltimore, Maryland, area since 2015 and is a graduate of Stevenson University’s Film & Moving Image program. Matt is currently back at Stevenson University, working as the School of Design, Arts, and Communication's Studio Manager.