The Australian horror duo Danny and Michael Philippou have solidified their place near the top of the contemporary horror class with their sophomore effort, Bring Her Back. The film’s ability to balance morose creeping dread with mad, malevolent nastiness is a hallmark of the sibling directors’ unique style.
Bring Her Back follows a similar narrative arc to its predecessor, Talk to Me, focusing on characters coping with recent losses. Andy (Billy Barratt), who has recently lost his father, takes in his stepsister Piper (Sora Wong) after her parents die, and later convinces everyone to let him join her at the home of foster mother Laura (Sally Hawkins).
Laura’s behavior is increasingly erratic, and it becomes clear that she is using violence to create and maintain a twisted form of life. As the story unfolds, the audience is presented with glimpses of Laura’s dark past, including abuse and gruesome rituals.
Hawkins’ performance as the unhinged Laura is mesmerizing, conveying maternal sorrow and devotion while hinting at a darker truth. Barratt delivers a confident performance as the protagonist Andy, evoking his desire to transcend his trauma and protect Piper from Laura’s manipulations.
The film’s pacing and tone are impeccable, with the Philippous expertly building suspense through precision-crafted scenes. While the plot is not without its predictability, the payoff is satisfying, including a gasp-inducing act of brutality that will leave audiences disturbed.
Ultimately, Bring Her Back presents a bleak worldview that contemplates cruelty as an inevitable offspring of grief, pain, and anguish. The film’s portrait of loss as a voracious beast that consumes everything in its path is both haunting and unforgettable.
Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/bring-her-back-the-resurrection-nightmare-thatll-haunt-your-dreams