The Phillipou Brothers’ latest directorial effort, ‘Bring Her Back’, is expertly crafted, yet truly sickening. Elliot from our Holborn store has sent us his review…
Driven by career-defining performances from Sally Hawkins and some other big-screen newcomers, this sophomore smash of occult horror and family drama will stick with you – whether you like it or not. Have I emphasised enough that this film isn’t for the faint hearted? Don’t get me wrong – I urge you to see this film, you’ll witness some of the finest acting, sound design and practical effects of the year. You’ll also just have an uncomfortable weird feeling in your teeth for days and never want to eat melon again (if you know, you know).
Bring Her Back centres around two step-siblings, Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong), as they adjust to a new foster home after their father’s sudden death, coming under the care of eccentric Laura (Sally Hawkins). Laura welcomes the closely bonded siblings into her isolated Australian home, immediately lavishing attention on partially sighted Piper, drawn to her resemblance to Laura’s recently deceased blind daughter. Andy finds himself sidelined, while the siblings are introduced to their other foster sibling, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), a mute and almost feral boy. Unbeknownst to the siblings, Laura is in the process of trying to resurrect her daughter, through an occult ritual that invites a demonic presence into the home. As Andy is gradually pushed to the side by the horrifyingly calculated manipulations of Laura, the ritual rears its ugly head, and the house descends into a surreal, traumatic nightmare of violence and familial terror.
First and foremost, the acting on display is excellent. All three performances of the children in the film are nothing short of fully committed. Sora Wong and Billy Barratt immediately establish a strong emotional core for the film, creating a very tangible and tight sibling dynamic, that will break your heart as their relationship is tested throughout. Jonah Wren Phillips delivers a remarkably unforgettable performance, carrying the film’s most challenging moments with a prowess that, in my opinion, places him among The Exorcist (1973) levels of child-turned-monster performances.
Sally Hawkins delivers another incredible performance as a foster mother – but while Paddington 1 and 2‘s Mrs. Brown is the most loving foster mother a bear (or anyone) could ask for, her performance as Laura will have you questioning if Paddington was ever in fact safe. Hawkins’ range is as broad as it is intense, making Laura’s manipulations and gaslighting of the siblings even more real and sinister. In one moment, she embodies whimsical, nurturing warmth, and in the next, transforms into something utterly unhinged and menacing. Yet, her portrayal of a grieving mother will devastate you just as much as it will terrify you.
Any faith you might’ve invested in the Phillipou Brothers to deliver another original horror hit after watching their lightning in a bottle debut Talk to Me was a wise investment. Their excellence behind the camera is here tenfold – albeit in a more patient manner. Where Talk to Me was chock full of snappy visuals and edits, Bring Her Back has a far more patient approach, giving its actors more space to chew on their scenes (pun intended).
The atmosphere gets under your skin more gradually, each moment of intensity building on the last. Moments of emotional intensity are given just as much care as supernatural moments – there are no moments so out of this world that aren’t brought crashing down to something very real and relatable. The horror on display is thus more grounded, and only elevated by its demonic elements, not reliant on them. One of the biggest compliments I could offer to this production would be that it could be stripped of all its supernatural elements and still be bone-chillingly compelling. The plot is dense, and in turn slightly messy at times, but pays off your patience with interest.
I was astounded at the quality of the practical effects. The film’s most wince-inducing moments featured gore effects so ingeniously vile, I had to look away at times. This should come as no surprise – the brothers cut their teeth on elaborate practical stunts and action-comedy sketches on YouTube as ‘RackaRacka’ from 2013 onward. It’s no wonder that their skill set in DIY and inventive solutions for props and VFX has helped create some of the most memorable moments in the horror genre of the past decade.
Bring Her Back approaches sound design in a character-driven fashion, particularly in its treatment of Piper. The film invites the audience to experience sound through Piper’s visually impaired experience of the world, allowing for a more immersive perspective. I found this impressive for effective representation, as well as horror impact. It was clear during certain scenes that the sound team helmed by Emma Bortignon (supervising sound editor and sound designer) had prioritised authenticity and immersion above all. Danny Philippou (director, one half of the Philippou Bros.) is quoted to have even recorded himself chewing on actual knives and biting into wooden tables, in order to capture the perfect sonic textures to elevate the visual horror. The only note I could give to the film’s attitude to sound would be that this meticulous approach could have been extended to the film’s score, which intentionally takes a backseat, in turn making it less memorable.
In conclusion, Bring Her Back is a well and truly horrifying film, full of hair-raising otherworldly horrors, as well as very, very real ones. It is likely to turn some people off due to its intensity, as it is most definitely shooting for more of a Hereditary (2018) type psychological horror, versus a Smile (2022) type thrill. If you can buckle up for this disturbingly dark and devastating roller coaster, you’ll be in to see some of the best acting and hands-over-your-eyes horror of the year. If you’re in the market for an AV system to experience the newest and most gruesome horrors and thrillers, don’t hesitate to give us a shout for the best deal.
Author: Elliot, Holborn Store
