Bring Her Back Review: Grappling with Grief

Bring Her Back doesn’t hold a candle to the Philippous’ first feature but still demonstrates why they’re the ones to watch in horror.

At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to non-biological siblings Piper (Sora Wong) and Andy (Billy Barratt). They clearly have a close bond, and Andy is extra protective of his stepsister, who is made fun of by other kids due to being blind. Piper’s protective brother paints the world around her as a pleasant place, full of kind people. Even though he’s concealing the truth, he does it to spare her feelings. 

Soon after, tragedy strikes with the sudden death of Andy’s father. As a result, he and Piper are sent to the foster home of Laura (Sally Hawkins, of The Shape of Water). At first, Laura comes across as the cool, fun aunt everyone wishes they could have. However, as the film progresses, we learn that she lost a daughter named Cathy (Mischa Heywood) and still hasn’t come to terms with her death. Then there’s Laura’s other child, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), who has allegedly been mute since Cathy’s passing. As time goes on, Oliver’s behavior grows even more bizarre, and Andy starts to think there’s something seriously wrong with him.

Though grief has been done to death in horror films (pardon the pun), the Philippous’ signature creative style makes their exploration of the topic stand out from the pack. Bring Her Back reinforces the talent of the twin brothers behind the camera and how well they’ve mastered creating movies within the genre. This could easily have been another generic portrayal of grief we’ve seen a million times before. However, much like their first feature, their creative vision is brought to life through impressive, profoundly disturbing practical effects and imagery. In addition, Bring Her Back’s haunting sound design, alongside the film’s eerie atmosphere, captured through off-kilter angles and tight framing, is what will leave viewers deeply unnerved. If anything in horror involving teeth makes you wince, let’s just say you’ve been warned!

Bring Her Back is much more of a slow burn compared to Talk to Me. The story gradually unfolds piece by piece, creating a level of suspense you could cut with a knife. One thing I adore about stories created by the Philippous’s is that they consistently keep you guessing and never follow a predictable path. About an hour into this film, when the most gruesome moments come out to play, you’ll still have no idea where the narrative is going to end up. Predictability in horror movies isn’t always a complete dealbreaker, but here, the element of surprise elevates the impact. 

Another key strength is Bring Her Back’s cast. It’s a shame horror doesn’t always get much of a look-in when award season rolls around, because Sally Hawkins’ performance here is phenomenal. This film marks new territory for the actress, and fans will be stunned by her range. Laura is a dark, twisted character that she completely disappears into. Jonah Wren Phillips also gives a remarkable performance, relying solely on physicality, in a deeply affecting role. One scene involving him and a table will leave you scarred for life, and Bring Her Back certainly highlights him as a talent to watch. 

For as promising as the film’s first half is, Bring Her Back does have its downsides. Although it does a fantastic job of cultivating mystery and intrigue for the first two acts, the ending didn’t quite deliver the satisfying climax I had anticipated. The biggest drawback is that as the story reached its conclusion, several questions surrounding Oliver were left unanswered. Though not every detail needs to be explained when it comes to the unresolved enigmas of horror, this is an instance where the character’s backstory could have benefited from more clarity. The ending also feels a bit too safe, especially when compared to the film’s buildup, which seemed to promise much more than what was ultimately delivered.

Bring Her Back is not quite on par with the Philippou brothers’ feature debut and doesn’t completely stick the landing. Still, it’s a fantastic follow-up for the twin filmmakers, firmly establishing them as talents to watch in the genre. In essence, the movie demonstrates grief to the extreme, shedding light on the profound effects of it and how the weight of a loss can push people toward desperation and distorted realities. How far would one be willing to go if they believed there was a possibility to bring their dearest loved one back to life?

Bring Her Back will be released in theatres in the US & Canada, Australia, and more countries on May 30, 2025. The film will open in UK & Irish cinemas on August 1, 2025.