The Philippou Brothers Are Back with a Disturbing New Horror: Bring Her Back

Danny and Michael Philippou, the Australian sibling team known as RackaRacka, have forged an impressive trajectory from viral internet stardom to cinematic recognition. After accumulating a devoted fanbase through their adrenaline-fueled, stunt-heavy videos on Facebook and YouTube, the brothers made an impressive feature film debut in 2023 with the critically lauded horror sensation Talk to Me. They now return with their sophomore feature, Bring Her Back — a haunting, emotionally charged horror film that explores the depths of grief.

A More Refined Yet Equally Eerie Follow-Up

Similar to their debut, Bring Her Back focuses on a teenage protagonist grappling with loss. Co-penned by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman (who also collaborated on Talk to Me), the film swaps the frenetic energy of their initial feature for a more muted, emotionally intricate atmosphere. However, it remains profoundly disquieting, melding psychological horror with body horror and a hint of the supernatural.

At the forefront of the cast is two-time Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, whose performance as a mourning foster mother is both captivating and chilling. Her interpretation enhances the film’s sinister ambiance, making Bring Her Back arguably even more unsettling than the Philippous’ first endeavor.

Sally Hawkins Evolves in a Defining Role

Renowned for her work in films like Paddington and The Shape of Water, Hawkins takes a bold leap into horror with Bring Her Back. She embodies Laura, a foster mother who takes in two newly orphaned half-siblings in her countryside home. On the surface, Laura exudes warmth and joy — a soothing presence for children in turmoil. Yet beneath her cheerful exterior lurks a woman tormented by the loss of her own daughter.

Newcomer Sora Wong portrays Piper, a spirited young girl with partial sight, while Billy Barratt plays her older half-brother Andy, who is burdened by the trauma surrounding their father’s death. As they start to adjust to Laura’s seemingly perfect home, it becomes evident that something is amiss. The siblings are accompanied by Ollie (Jonah Wren Phillips), another foster child who remains silent and watches them with unsettling intensity.

The narrative unfolds primarily through Andy’s perspective, and as his apprehensions about Laura mount, so too does the audience’s sense of foreboding. Hawkins skillfully balances the dual nature of her character — at times endearingly sweet, at others frigid and calculating. Her performance is a masterclass, encapsulating both the anguish of maternal loss and the terrifying impulses it can provoke.

Grief as the True Villain

Bring Her Back employs horror as a vessel to investigate the all-consuming nature of grief. Drawing on their personal experiences with loss, the Philippou brothers inject the film with emotional truth. The terror here is not solely found in the gore or the supernatural — although both are present in spine-chilling excess — but in the psychological disintegration that grief can unleash.

The film alludes to mystical forces at work in Laura’s household, yet, similar to Talk to Me, the Philippous refrain from over-explaining the origins of the malevolence. Instead, they envelop the viewer in the teens’ disorientation and terror, escalating the anxiety through ambiguity. The outcome is a horror experience that feels both tangible and profoundly human.

Laura’s descent into madness is portrayed with empathy. The film makes it clear that she is as much a victim of her sorrow as she is a perpetrator. Her quest for control, her desperate clinging to the past, and her twisted sense of purpose all arise from a grief that has enveloped her. In this sense, Bring Her Back presents grief not just as a motif, but as the genuine antagonist.

A Remarkable Cast of Young Talent

While Hawkins delivers an outstanding performance, the young actors are equally striking. Barratt, recently featured in Kraven: The Hunter, brings a raw sensitivity to Andy. He embodies the awkward shift between adolescence and adulthood, blending emotional delicacy with bursts of resilience and defiance.

Wong, in her debut role, is a revelation. Her portrayal of Piper radiates charm and grit, establishing her as an instantly endearing character. Her buoyant energy sharply contrasts the film’s darker moments, amplifying the climax’s emotional impact.

Yet perhaps the most chilling performance comes from Jonah Wren Phillips as Ollie. With minimal dialogue, Phillips expresses profound trauma and eerie aloofness through his physicality and penetrating stare. As the story unfolds, his role becomes increasingly challenging, involving intricate prosthetics and physical effects. His dedication, coupled with the Philippous’ mastery of practical effects, creates a character that lingers long after the credits have rolled.

A Raw, Emotional Horror Experience

Bring Her Back doesn’t merely frighten — it overwhelms. The film’s sound design and practical effects deliver horror moments that are visually unsettling and physically impactful. The sound of crunching bones