Movies - Bring Her Back: A Chilling Descent into Supernatural Terror Rooted in Raw Emotion and Visceral Craft

By Mulder, 01 june 2025

With Bring Her Back, Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou confirm that their talent is far from a fleeting phenomenon in the horror genre. Following the success of Talk to Me, the brothers—known for their YouTube alter-ego RackaRacka—shift gears with a film that feels more intimate, more suffocating, and more emotionally potent than their breakout hit. Anchored by a disturbing concept of resurrection through occult ritual, the story follows two step-siblings—played by the commanding Billy Barratt and the revelatory Sora Wong—who are thrust into the dark heart of a supernatural ceremony orchestrated by their foster mother, portrayed with haunting fragility by Sally Hawkins. At its core, Bring Her Back is about grief, manipulation, and the disturbing ways in which the living cling to the dead, and it mines these emotional depths through a visual and sonic tapestry that’s as invasive as it is unforgettable. The film’s eerie authenticity is rooted in the South Australian locales used for its shoot—sprawling suburbia tainted with dread—while the score by Cornel Wilczek and the cinematography by Aaron McLisky together create a sense of claustrophobia that grows heavier with each frame.

The film’s production is as fascinating as the story itself. Originally slated to adapt Street Fighter, Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou pivoted toward a more personal vision, abandoning the lucrative video game project in favor of Bring Her Back, a decision that not only solidified their creative integrity but also allowed them to embrace their love for psycho-biddy horror. The project was quickly bolstered by the backing of Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton at Causeway Films, with the South Australian Film Corporation and Salmira Productions stepping in to secure the financing. Returning to their roots in Adelaide and filming for just 41 days, the brothers leaned into their DIY ethos while elevating the production with a refined cinematic polish. The casting of Sally Hawkins proved to be a masterstroke. Originally considered a long shot, her attachment to the film became a transformative anchor. Known for nuanced roles in dramas, Sally Hawkins brings a chilling vulnerability to Laura, a mother unraveling under the weight of obsession and grief. Her immersive commitment extended offscreen, as she reportedly helped dress the sets in character and maintained daily contact with the directors throughout the shoot, deepening her role far beyond the script’s requirements.

Perhaps the most astonishing casting story belongs to Sora Wong, a complete unknown whose life changed because of a Facebook casting call spotted by her mother. With zero acting experience, Sora Wong nonetheless delivers a performance filled with aching realism and a physicality that speaks to both fear and resolve. Her chemistry with Billy Barratt, himself a rising star known for mature, emotionally complex portrayals, anchors the film in a believable sibling dynamic. Their performances never feel like mere genre archetypes; instead, they exude a lived-in truth, adding emotional stakes to the horrific events that unfold. One scene, already becoming infamous, involves the sound of a character chewing on a knife. While that moment might seem like a sound designer’s flourish, it was in fact Danny Philippou himself who recorded the ghastly audio by biting into a fake blade with a microphone inside his mouth—a visceral dedication to unnerving the audience that exemplifies the film’s intense attention to sensory horror.

Despite its art-house leanings and disturbing content, Bring Her Back has found commercial success. Released on May 29, 2025, in Australia by Sony Pictures Releasing International, and the following day in North America by A24, the film debuted to $7.1 million in the U.S. box office—finishing a respectable third against franchise giants—and has since grossed $15.2 million worldwide. This success can partly be attributed to the Philippou brothers’ growing fanbase and the trust they’ve cultivated with genre fans eager for bold, emotionally intelligent horror. Yet, the film’s marketing also played a crucial role, especially its cryptic trailers and word-of-mouth buzz, generated by screenings where some viewers reportedly walked out during the more psychologically taxing sequences. The press notes indicate the Philippous consciously chose to lean into “emotional horror,” focusing less on jump scares and more on building a sustained mood of dread, which, paired with Wilczek’s ambient sound design—often layering up to 750 individual audio tracks per scene—creates a deeply unsettling experience.

Bring Her Back is ultimately a statement of artistic maturity from Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou, a clear evolution from the kinetic chaos of their earlier works into a more grounded, emotionally driven mode of storytelling. While it remains deeply unsettling, what lingers after the credits is not just the horror of what’s been seen, but the heartbreak of what’s been felt. This is horror as catharsis, a reminder that the scariest ghosts are often the ones we carry inside us.

Synopsis :
A brother and sister discover a terrifying ritual in the isolated home of their new foster family.

Bring Her Back
Directed by Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Written by Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
Produced by Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton
Starring Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Sally Hawkins
Cinematography : Aaron McLisky
Edited by Geoff Lamb
Music by Cornel Wilczek
Production companies : Causeway Films, RackaRacka
Distributed by A24 (United States), Sony Pictures Releasing France (France)
Release date : May 30, 2025 (France), July 30, 2025 (France)
Running time : 104 minutes