Substitution - Bring Her Back

83/100

Bring Her Back is one of those rare horror films that hit both emotionally and technically. The story is intimate and unsettling, but it's the execution that makes it stand out.

First, Sally Hawkins delivers a phenomenal performance - raw, layered, and painfully real. She holds the entire film on her shoulders with such precision and emotion that it's honestly Oscar-worthy. I couldn't help but think of Hereditary (2018), where Toni Collette also gave a mind-blowing performance but was completely snubbed by the Academy. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself.

Atmosphere is tense from the very first scene. The film masterfully builds dread without relying on cheap jump scares. The cinematography is elegant and intimate, often using close shots and cold tones to create a feeling of claustrophobia and grief. Sound design and music are subtle but deeply effective - at times you don't even notice them, but they're working in the background, crawling under your skin.

This is not just another horror flick. It's thoughtful, beautifully acted, and full of emotional weight. Highly recommended if you appreciate horror that respects your intelligence.

Bring Her Back dives into darkness, but not for cheap scares. It's a layered, slow-burning descent into grief, guilt, and obsession, where horror is a byproduct of emotional unraveling.

The possession element is handled with restraint. The young boy's performance is deeply unsettling, not because of jump scares, but because it feels believable. The mother's arc is the true backbone. Her desperation, unraveling, and gradual revelation give the film its emotional weight.

The horror sequences are disturbing, yes, but they're never the point. What drives the film is a mother's raw need to retrieve what was lost, no matter the cost.

It's not just a horror film. It's a psychological excavation, with more to unpack than it first lets on. A strong, thoughtful entry in the genre.

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.

I'm a fan of the Philippou brothers' work on "Talk to Me". While that film had plenty of creepy imagery, it still felt more like a fun, popcorn-style horror experience. That's why I was genuinely excited to hear about "Bring Her Back"-these are the kinds of follow-ups where you really see what directors are made of.

"Bring Her Back" takes a more serious and artistic approach to horror than Talk to Me. The first 30 minutes are dedicated to character development, which felt a bit slow and could have been tighter in editing. However, once the story gains momentum, it really takes off.

Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, this film builds tension through atmosphere and unsettling imagery. It's beautifully shot, often disturbing, and the acting performances are excellent. Definitely worth seeing in theaters.

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 !