Substitution - Bring Her Back

I'm not one to usually write reviews, but after catching an advanced screening of the Philippou brothers new entry into the horror genre, I just had to praise what I witnessed.

First off, this film is definitely not for the faint hearted, nor is it a horror film to particularly get enjoyment out of. It's bleak, extremely visceral, unrelenting and really emotionally devastating ... but in the best ways horror can be!

As soon as the movie starts revealing its evil side, it takes hold of you and doesn't let go.

All the actors portrayed their characters with emotional and realistic excellence, but Sally Hawkins was just unmatched. It's hard to really describe her performance without getting into spoiler territory, but she couldn't have done a better job at being so unnerving & emotionally powerful, both at the same time.

The cinematography was incredible, with heaps of little foreshadowing details sprinkled throughout the film. So many of the shots were precisely made to convey & ooze that feeling of uneasiness/dread, which just adds that extra layer to the film's atmosphere.

Speaking of the atmosphere, the Philippou brothers sure know how to pack a punch with their direction. While there is still a deeply emotional and brutal story at play here, the brothers don't mind having loose ends here and there & instead, they are more after that gut-wrenching, stomach-churning horror experience as a whole.

That brings me to the practical effects... Somehow, this film got a classification of only MA15+ in Australia, and that just baffles me in the best way possible.

After 'Talk To Me', I was expecting some pretty skin-crawling gore & practical effects, but boy oh boy, I wasn't expecting this.

This film just ramps up the violence on every level and is done so in a way that will have even the hardcore horror fans wincing, incredible stuff!

In all, this movie makes their debut film 'Talk To Me' come across as a fun horror movie to watch after 'Bring Her Back', just to wind down.

It's a slow burn descent into hell & by the end of the film, actually ends up being one of the more depressingly sad/emotional horror films I've seen in some time.

It will make you feel sick, sad & terrified, all at the same time.

Well done RackaRacka !

Bring Her Back" is the second feature film and horror movie made by the Philippou brothers. After their recent hit Talk to Me really blew me away with expert filmmaking, storytelling, hidden details, and strong characterization, I was excited to see their new movie and whether they could repeat that success. In this film, we follow a brother and his stepsister who are sent to live with a foster mother after their father dies. However, something strange is going on, and with the brother's troubled past and the sister's limited vision, their investigation into what is happening in their new home becomes increasingly difficult.

I can confidently say that the Philippou brothers did not create a one hit wonder with their debut film because Bring Her Back is an amazing cinematic experience filled with visceral bloody carnage and emotional depth. The movie has a tense atmosphere and some genuinely suspenseful moments that manage to scare without relying on cheap jump scares or tired genre tropes.

Even for someone like me who has rated over 3,000 horror films on IMDb, this movie was able to surprise me in several ways. While it becomes clear fairly early where the story is heading, it never felt boring or too predictable. The film features excellent cinematography and strong performances from the entire cast. The characters are interesting and multi-dimensional, and although the themes of trauma and grief are common in the genre, the Philippou brothers introduce them in a fresh and compelling way. "Enjoyable" might not be the right word given the dark themes and brutal violence, but the film does not shy away from showing the horrifying things that can be done to the human body.

One thing that could have enhanced the experience even further would have been more background information. The movie opens with found footage of a ritual, and I would have loved to learn more about the backstory behind how everything came to be.

Even though supernatural horror is not my favorite subgenre because it is filled with lazy films and generic scripts, Bring Her Back managed to both entertain and scare. It is a memorable addition to the genre and has me genuinely excited to see what Danny and Michael do next. I am especially happy for them since I have followed them since their chaotic YouTube days as "RackaRacka," and now they are creating well crafted and horrifying films for the big screen. [6.9/10]

Bring Her Back is a visual horror masterpiece that left me feeling a bit hollow.

I did have an emotional connection with the characters and each actor was on point. However the ending left me wanting way more. I understand visual story telling, and some things are better left unsaid but with this film I needed more exposition.

This movie could have really built some cool lore with the cult elements and the ancient demonic entity, but instead it was pretty much brushed over. I did enjoy the videotapes when we got to see them but I wanted to see how Laura acquired them. That would have been really cool.

The character of Oliver was by far my favorite and every scene he was in he stole the show.

Brother and sister Andy and Piper were great leads and you could really tell they loved each through all of this grief they experienced.

Laura was a wicked person who had her own motives and she definitely had me sympathetic for her at times.

Overall I'd recommend, it's not for the faint of heart. It's dark, bleak and depressing with a beautiful visual paint brush over the lens. The Philippou brothers are technically brilliant and I'm looking forward to any piece of art they decide to put out in the future.

I've just stepped out of 'Bring Her Back' preview, and I'm still trying to steady my heart rate. For me, it felt like watching early Ari Aster or the original 'Speak No Evil' - that same creeping dread, that slow-burn descent into absolute horror. So tense, so relentless, I genuinely forgot to breathe at points.

The Philippou brothers have done it again. 'Talk to Me' was no fluke - 'Bring Her Back' proves they're not just playing in the horror sandbox, they're shaping it. This film gets under your skin early and doesn't let go.

The performances are excellent across the board (Sally Hawkins is devastating), but what really struck me was the direction. The shots are fantastic - meticulously framed, textured, and always hinting at something sinister lurking just out of frame.

And the gore. OMG, the gore. Not gratuitous, but felt - visceral, unnerving, and timed so well that even I, who usually handles horror like a champ, found myself getting properly squeamish.

The payoff? 100% worth it. Tonally, it sticks the landing. Emotionally bleak, sure, but never cheap. If you love your horror smart, stylish, and genuinely disturbing - this one's for you.

Definitely not disappointed.

This is a horror movie that doesn't have to rely on jumpscares; it doesn't have to rely on possession or creepy rituals, even though it's got both. And gore; I had to look away in one scene in particular. The actual horror is the all-too believable manipulations of a foster mother with a hidden agenda, and our feeling of powerlessness to stop her. This was the kind of film that it would be excruciating to have to leave before seeing the end, because it makes you care about its characters so much. You'll probably even finding yourself root for the villain. This is the best horror movie I've seen in a while and it stuck with me for days.