BRING HER BACK: An Unrelenting, Visceral Depiction of Grief

A brother and sister move in with their new foster mom, only to discover she has a horrifying motive behind taking them in. Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou (aka RackaRacka), Bring Her Back is a visceral experience exploring many facets of grief to deliver one of the best and most disturbing horror films this year.

Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) have a precious bond, with him serving as a protective big brother for his sister, who is partially sighted. One day, their world is shaken when their father unexpectedly passes away. Since Andy is still a few months shy of turning 18, the two move in with a foster mom named Laura (Sally Hawkins).

Dealing with a recent loss of her own, Laura takes the two in warmly, though she seems more affectionate towards Piper. They meet her other foster child, a young boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), who doesn’t speak and quickly unnerves Andy.

While Laura seems nurturing, Andy can’t help but feel something is off. As her disfavor begins to show towards him, he and his sister will discover a terrifying truth.

Bring Her Back is the follow-up to the Philippou’s incredible debut Talk To Me. While both films tackle grief, the filmmakers stated they wanted this new story to have a “different energy”. They drew inspiration from their own personal loss to explore how that grief is all-consuming. While still rooted in the supernatural, this film is demented, pulling from disturbing and dark places to depict the depths people will go to when dealing with unimaginable pain.

The film does not hold back from truly horrifying its audience. It amps things up from their previous work, with one scene in particular that had me gasping in horror. And with that, we get impressive and seamless practical effects that will have you reeling in your seat. But while it has some of the sickest scenes, it still has a bit of their macabre humor present, including maybe one of the most disturbing uses of a song by The Veronicas.

Balancing the frights, though, is a surprisingly emotional story. It is a fairly intimate film, and we get to see the relationship between Andy and Piper beautifully articulated. While they had a rough start, he’s grown to become her biggest champion. And while he deals with overcoming his traumas, he does whatever he can to ensure his sister never experiences her own.

That relationship wouldn’t be as moving without the two beautiful performances by Barratt and Wong, the latter of which is making her acting debut. Their chemistry is palpable and carries the film in such a touching way, their bond leaping from the screen and into your heart.

But Wong isn’t the only acting debut. This is also the first film for Phillips, who plays Oliver. He delivers a captivating and frightening performance in a role requiring a lot of physicality. As the character is mute, his dialogue is minimal, yet we see him have quite a transformation that the young actor impressively takes on.

There’s so much power in the film’s themes, and it takes you on quite the journey through complex characters. And no character more than Laura, played by Hawkins. She gives a wonderfully nuanced performance, fully embodying the character through her peculiarities and sorrow. It’s a performance that will undoubtedly leave audiences conflicted and awestruck.

But there’s also an equally interesting character journey for Andy, as he struggles to combat the troubled teen persona that’s been forced upon him. Even as Laura tests his patience and oversteps, he often obliges to be a good boy and be able to stay with his sister. But it’s also an inner battle he’s having with himself to shake off a stereotype.

The strong characters drive the film in many ways, and the performances from the entire cast are spectacular—some of the best this year.

We are also treated to so many striking visuals and beautifully composed shots. This film truly highlights the filmmaker’s skill at crafting an exquisite show. Even down to its grotesque sound design. And there’s much to be dissected and interpreted about certain shots, as there’s a lot of show versus tell. Though not in a way that’s frustrating or unfinished. It simply lets you ponder things and interpret them on your own, which will undoubtedly make watching it again all the more interesting.

Bring Her Back is an unrelenting feast of horror and humanity. The film is shocking, heartbreaking, and leaves a mark on you. They wanted to explore how grief is all-consuming; they fully succeeded. It’s incredible to see a sophomore effort perhaps surpass the first, but RackaRacka has done it. A film so captivating and haunting.

Bring Her Back is in theaters May 30