Horror Movie Review: Bring Her Back (2025)

It takes a special kind of horror to reveal its hand early on and still keep me on the edge of my seat. It takes a special kind of horror to create a villain that is utterly detestable, but a villain that is also tragic and sympathetic. It takes a special kind of horror to immerse to such a degree that 100+ minutes flies by.

Such an experience is rare, but every so often one comes along that delivers on all this, and more. This film is Bring Her Back, a supernatural folk horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, with the former co-writing the screenplay with Bill Hinzman. A film far better than the premise suggests.

Billy Barratt plays Andy and Sora Wong plays Piper, two step-siblings who are left in limbo following the death of their father. A traumatic event made worse when the care system threatens to separate them. Thankfully, they are placed into the care of Laura (Sally Hawkins), an ex-counsellor, where they will stay until Andy turns 18 and can apply for guardianship of Piper provided he can stay on his best behaviour seeing as he has had prior problems.

Laura is an eccentric woman, dealing with her own trauma having lost her daughter, Cathy some time ago. However, she welcomes them in, introduces them to the mute boy, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), and tries to make them feel at home.

She seems nice, a bit sad, but nice. Even if she makes it fairly obvious that she prefers Piper to Andy. However, as time goes by, her behaviour becomes more eccentric, her manipulation becomes more intense, her obsession with Piper grows, and the story surrounding Oliver becomes more questionable. Simply put, Laura isn’t ok. Her grief has caused her to enact a demonic ritual in a desperate attempt to bring back her daughter from beyond the grave.

Andy, Piper, and Oliver are all just collateral damage, unless they can stop her before it’s too late.

It’s an excellent story told in exciting fashion, letting the viewer know what is (roughly) going on early, but building the suspense as the detail is filled in over the film’s runtime. Not only does it thrill, but it chills, and isn’t afraid to push some boundaries as far as gore goes. There are a couple of scenes, especially one involving a knife in a mouth, that might make you squirm.

It’s also a film that shows expertise from a directing standpoint. Where the ability to capture warmth, cold, a range of character emotions, isolation, and so much more is on display.

The acting though, this is where Bring Her Back goes from being a great film, to being one of the best films released this year. A range of actors delivering a range of unique performances, all with one thing in common, a desire to make this film everything it can be. Everyone is outstanding here, but special mention has to go to Sally Hawkins as Laura. Easily one of the most layered characters in horror in some time. By the end of the film, I didn’t know if I wanted to see her dead or give her a big hug. Outstanding.

I love getting to gush about a horror film. It simply doesn’t happen enough, so when the opportunity arises, I take it. I’m not alone in thinking that Bring Her Back is special, I’m just joining a chorus of voices. See this film, and be prepared to be left thinking about it for a long time afterwards.