Chronicles in film

Aussie brothers Danny and Michael Philippou know grief. Their 2022 feature debut, Talk to Me, tapped into raw sorrow and the demons we cling to in an attempt to ease it. Bring Her Back is their atmospheric, disturbing, and triumphant follow-up—one that strikes the heartstrings of loss and leaves you speechless.

The Philippous push horror beyond its usual limits. Instead of a classic monster, the true terror here is grief itself—a beast that feeds on perfectly normal human emotions. We all face it, but in the wrong hands, grief can be twisted into something dangerous, leading to withdrawal, isolation, and self-destruction.

Billy Barratt and Sora Wong star as siblings Andy and Piper. When their father dies suddenly, the young pair face being split up in care. Andy pleads for them to stay together, and they’re placed with foster carer Laura (Sally Hawkins), a counsellor still mourning her own daughter, Cathy. Laura lives with foster son Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), and Piper—like Cathy—is visually impaired. Almost immediately, Andy senses that their new home is too good to be true. Laura quickly bonds with Piper, planting doubts about her brother, while Andy edges closer to uncovering her sinister agenda.

At just 99 minutes, Bring Her Back is a slow burn. Like Andy, we can see Laura’s mask slip—she’s no “full shilling”—yet she plays the perfect mother for Piper. The script drip-feeds its reveals: a grainy VHS showing witchcraft or ritual, Oliver’s worsening condition mirroring someone in the footage, Laura’s gaslighting of Andy to secure Piper’s trust. A dry, unused swimming pool looms in the back garden—a quiet metaphor for emptiness and unease. By the final act, the story lands an emotional blow.

This isn’t jump-scare horror. While there are a few shocks and some bursts of gore, the real impact comes from the psychological tension and the siblings’ trauma. The Philippous cite Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? as an inspiration, and the influence is felt in its unsettling power dynamics.

The performances are outstanding. Wong, who is genuinely visually impaired, brings authenticity to Piper—naïve but determined to live fully as long as her brother is near. Barratt is heartfelt as Andy, bottling his own pain to protect her, his flashes of anger balanced by quiet vulnerability. Hawkins is superb casting: often seen in nurturing roles, here she hides desperation and cruelty behind a caring façade.

Sound plays a crucial role. Emma Bortignon’s design keeps the nerves taut, while Cornel Wilczek’s score swells with foreboding and dread.

The Philippou Brothers have struck gold once again. It’s as disturbing as it is beautiful, playing on the emotions of the human psyche in times of loss. The brothers constantly challenge themselves just as much as they challenge the viewer. Bring Her Back might not be everyone’s cup of tea—it’s a bloody, violent film—but it reminds us that, when it comes to grief, we should do the best we can and move on. The ones we miss will always be with us.

In UK cinemas now /Horror, Thriller / Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips / Dir: Danny and Michael Philippou/ Sony Pictures/ 18