Nerdly » ‘Bring Her Back’ Review

14th Jul2025

‘Bring Her Back’ Review

by James Rodrigues

Stars: Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Sally Hawkins, Jonah Wren Phillips, Mischa Heywood, Stephen Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Kathryn Adams | Written by Danny Phillippou, Bill Hinzman | Directed by Danny Phillippou, Michael Phillippou

Following a successful YouTube career as RackaRacka, Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Phillippou made quite the splash with their exemplary debut, 2022’s Talk to Me. That unsettling work announced them as exciting talents in horror cinema, something that is solidified with their follow-up, Bring Her Back.

After the sudden death of their father, Andy (Billy Barratt) and his visually impaired sister, Piper (Sora Wong), are sent to live in a foster home. They move in with Laura (Sally Hawkins), an eccentric former counsellor who is caring for another foster child, a mute boy called Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). While Andy intends to apply for Piper’s guardianship when he turns 18, those plans are threatened by creepy occurrences within the house.

The Philippou’s direct a screenplay which Danny co-wrote with Bill Hinzman, allowing these combined creators to deliver something that feels distinct from their previous collaboration. While Talk To Me lulled viewers into a false sense of security with the laughs, allowing the eventual horror to make more of an impact, this follow-up takes a different approach. An underlying sense of danger runs throughout, as the characters grapple with grief and regrets that loom large, driving them towards what they perceive as redemption.

While the Philippou’s previous work felt like a breath of fresh air, this follow-up struggles to recapture that same feeling. Both films arrived in the wake of allegorical horror’s rise in popularity, but this sophomore effort takes avenues which feel more familiar and ends up struggling to set itself apart. Yet that does not diminish how uncomfortable the horror can become in its various guises. Whether it is unforgettable examples of the physical effects work (particularly involving teeth), or a nighttime bedroom scene which grows unsettling as tension builds, the horrific instances certainly pack a punch.

Bring Her Back’s secret weapon is how emotionally affecting it is. As the siblings joke around and enjoy their time in each other’s company, there is an evident feeling of Andy trying to spare Piper from any more pain and trauma. His primary goal is to look after his sarcastic sister, giving her the family that she longs for while hoping that this is a chance at bettering himself. The believable performances sell their relationship wonderfully, ensuring that the mere sight of an aeroplane delivers emotionally when lesser hands could have made that moment feel trite.

Amidst the impressive performances, the standout is undoubtedly Sally Hawkins. Many associate her with the first two Paddington films, as the loving matriarch who will do anything for her family, and this offers a very different approach to that basic idea. Whereas Mrs. Brown went above and beyond to protect her bear son, Laura takes unforeseen routes to quell her inner pain in the hopes of righting an unfathomable wrong.

Whether her time is spent blaring rock music, rewatching an old video, or undermining Andy’s mental state, Hawkins captures so much grief and hurt with facial expressions that grant volumes to an already engrossing character. It all makes for a terrific second work with Bring Her Back, which deserves watching alone for including The Veronicas’ 2000s hit, Untouched.