In 2022, Australians were stunned as YouTube pranksters-turned-directors Michael and Danny Philippou redefined themselves with their breakout horror film Talk to Me. Now, the twin filmmakers are back with Bring Her Back, a darker, more sophisticated evolution of their signature style — blending emotional depth with bone-chilling horror.
What to Expect from Bring Her Back
- Plot: Two orphaned siblings are placed in the care of an unsettling guardian with a fixation on the occult.
- Cast: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barrett, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips
- Directors: Michael and Danny Philippou
- Where to watch: In cinemas now
- Mood: Unnerving but electrifying
The film kicks off in heartbreak: teen Andy (Billy Barrett) and his younger, visually impaired sister Piper (Sora Wong) discover their father — their only family — dead in the shower. Social services plan to split them up, but Andy refuses to be separated. As a compromise, they are sent to live with Laura (Sally Hawkins), a woman who quickly raises red flags.
Laura seems like that eccentric friend of your mum’s you were never quite comfortable around as a kid — warm on the surface, but boundary-crossing and manipulative underneath. She’s especially drawn to Piper, who reminds her of her late daughter Cathy, who also had a vision impairment. The eerie resemblance soon becomes more than symbolic.
Adding to the sense of unease is ten-year-old Ollie (Jonah Wren Phillips), a selectively mute boy who Laura claims is her son. He’s introduced standing silently in a drained pool, and often vanishes into a padlocked room or is led into a locked garden shed in the middle of the night. Something is clearly wrong.
Expertly Executed Horror and a Haunting Heart
Bring Her Back doesn’t shy away from gore — and it’s both brutal and brilliantly done. The gruesome visuals never feel gratuitous, thanks to the work of the Make-up Effects Group and prosthetics master Larry Van Duynhoven, known for upcoming body horror Together. This film will make you think twice before casually licking a knife.
Yet beneath the blood is a moving exploration of grief, and the desperate things people will do to escape it. While grief horror is a well-worn subgenre (see The Babadook or Lake Mungo), Bring Her Back feels fresh, grounded in compelling performances and layered characters.
Barrett delivers a standout portrayal of Andy, balancing teenage rage with tenderness. His care for Piper is touching — seen in gestures like flipping down a sun visor so she can feel sunlight on her face — but he also hides painful truths from her, protecting her at a cost.
Wong, in her first major role, is luminous as Piper. Initially fragile, she soon reveals strength and agency, proving she’s no one’s victim.
Hawkins, meanwhile, is sensational as Laura. She nails the chaotic “90s Aussie mum” energy, but also plunges into dark territory as a grieving parent haunted by loss. Her performance is both terrifying and tragic — deserving of serious awards attention.
Still, it’s Jonah Wren Phillips as Ollie who leaves the strongest impression. With minimal dialogue, he conveys horror through haunting physicality and emotion. His presence brings the film’s most chilling moments, amplified by his gaunt appearance and hauntingly wide eyes.
Philippou Flair and a Uniquely Aussie Identity
The film’s tension is offset by flashes of the Philippou brothers’ signature humour and proudly Australian sensibilities. (Yes, What About Me by Shannon Noll and Untouched by The Veronicas both feature — and yes, that deserves national recognition.)
Writers Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman inject just enough ambiguity into Laura’s supernatural practices to keep audiences intrigued long after the credits roll. Their clever use of recurring imagery and sound motifs creates a hypnotic loop that tightens as the story unfolds.
Importantly, they include a thoughtful coda, keeping the story grounded in emotional truth rather than spiraling into pure nihilism.
