Australian writer-directors Danny and Michael Philippou have once again combined their sick, twisted minds to create Bring Her Back, a psychological horror that will test even the strongest of stomachs. It follows a brother and sister who uncover a terrifying ritual at the home of their new foster mother.
Formally known as RackaRacka, the brothers have created a name for themselves in the world of horror since their YouTube days. Their knack for body horror is some of the best in the business, coming across as more sickening than even the worst moments in Saw. As a horror fiend, and someone who prides themselves with being able to endure the most horrifying content, there’s something about this movie that’s almost too unsettling to endure. From the get-go there’s an eerie undertone underlying every single scene that compounds and exponentially increases as the film goes on. There’s also so many unnatural character quirks and story beats, specifically surrounding the actions of Sally Hawkins‘ Laura, that make this film a tough pill to swallow. There’s actually not all that much gore and body horror in here, but those moments are so impactful that they stick with you through the remainder of the film.
The horror and tension are both very consistent throughout the film. It drip-feeds you with distressing moments and maintains a constant sense of unease. While the big, shocking moments are the ones you’ll remember, it’s the more tonally unsettling beats that create that spine-tingling chill. Despite being a larger production, there’s an almost amateur feel to the film that does nothing but enhance the terrifying nature of events. The story is largely localised to one house and there’s an almost grainy texture to the cinematography, giving it that dirty, raw look. There’s not a single moment of positive reprieve, so it can be a beautifully grueling watch for any casual horror fans.
We’ve established that the horror doesn’t miss a beat, but it should be highlighted that so much of the horror is impactful thanks to the performances within. It’s unbelievable to think that Sally Hawkins isn’t an Oscar winner, especially when seeing what she accomplishes in this film. Hawkins’ performance is riveting, spine-chilling and straight-up haunting, bringing the character to life with this unhinged edge that I’ve not really seen from her before. She plays the role so perfectly that you can see why other characters would trust her and not notice her more shady side. Acting alongside Hawkins is Sora Wong (Piper) and there’s something special about her acting inexperience that makes her performance even more natural. She does a great job of bringing out the caring, wholesome qualities of her character, making her feel like a real, rational person.
Narrative-wise there’s something really compelling about the way the Philippous have decided to go about giving us answers. They’ve struck this balance between building a compelling mystery and drip-feeding us a surprising amount of insight into Laura and her ritualistic experiments. They don’t come out of the gate explaining everything, but they do drop some crucial tidbits relatively early. It’s somewhat refreshing to not have to go 90+ minutes entirely in the dark, while still having plenty of “what the fuck is going on?” moments along the way. It’s a very slow-grind horror film that doesn’t aggressively picks up the pace at any point, even when heading into the final act. It sticks to a consistent pace and trusts in the building of tension to create that fast-paced climactic feel, and it’s quite successful in its approach.
In the end, Bring Her Back is a satisfyingly sick, twisted and bloody ride that’s not for the faint of heart. Danny and Michael Philippou have delivered on their trademark body horror, excelling in creating an unsettling atmosphere that holds true through the entire film. A sign of their success is that even when there’s nothing gross or grotesque happening on screen I still felt my stomach churning in fear of what would happen next. I feel like they have the potential to do something with greater depth in lore, which is the one thing I wish this film had, but I’m sure that’s on the way, if they haven’t done it already.
8.2/10
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