Every ritual has a cost. From Talk to Me directors Danny and Michael Philippou comes a new horror film, Bring Her Back. The film centers around siblings who uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother. Bring Her Back stars Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, Mischa Heywood, and Sally Hawkins.
What happens when there’s a devastating hole in your heart and no outlet to get the negative emotions out? A lot of horror films explore that theme, and Bring Her Back shows the literal and psychological manifestations. The film is a fever-dream mashed with body horror that shocks and gets under your skin. Some spoilers ahead to hype you up for the film.
Laura takes Piper’s height while Oliver and Andy watch | Source: Columbia Pictures
Sally Hawkins’ – best known for her roles in The Shape of Water, Happy-Go-Lucky, and the Paddington movies — portrayal of Laura anchors the horror of the film. Laura’s relationship with death sets the tone of the film, but her subtle manipulation and literal skeletons in the closet make Laura an even more haunting character in the story. But if she’s the antagonist (or is she?), the heart of the film are the three children put under Laura’s care: Andy (Billy Barratt), Piper (Sora Wong), and Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips).
Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) in the middle of a swimming pool holding the cat | Source: Columbia Pictures
Andy and Piper are siblings who have to stay with Laura until Andy turns 18, while Oliver is suspected to be ten years old. Seeing these children go through horrific events makes us queasy, and the Pilippou brothers don’t shy away from that here. Oliver is seen mutilating himself or in a state of possession in the marketing material. With red eyes, a red mark on his cheek, and an uncanny look of angelic and demonic at the same time, Oliver takes the brunt of the body horror. Or at least, it looks like it. Who knows what horrors will happen to this foster family?
Catch Bring Her Back in Philippine cinemas soon and watch the trailer here: