A Chilling Evolution in the Philippou Brothers’ Horror Legacy
From the visionary minds of Danny and Michael Philippou—whose explosive debut, Talk To Me, electrified horror audiences with its raw supernatural energy—comes Bring Her Back, a film that signals not just the brothers’ continued fascination with the uncanny, but also a daring leap into deeper, darker artistic territory.
This effort is at once a tribute to and a departure from their origins, cementing their reputation as two of the most original voices in contemporary horror.
Bring Her Back tells the harrowing story of a brother and sister, newly placed in the remote care of a foster mother whose house is shrouded in secrets. What begins as a tense exploration of familial trauma swiftly unfurls into a feverish nightmare, as the siblings unearth a terrifying ritual rooted in the house’s very foundations. The narrative plunges into the abyss of the unknown, suffusing every frame with dread and an unsettling sense of inevitability.
Where Talk To Me relied on kinetic energy and the visceral jolt of supernatural encounters, Bring Her Back is a far more measured, atmospheric affair. The Philippou brothers trade frantic jump scares for slow-burning psychological terror, embracing a style that is as artistic as it is disturbing. It’s a film suffused with deep, unsettling themes—grief, identity, and the monstrous ways in which trauma can echo through family bonds.
The imagery here is nothing short of haunting: crumbling photographs, ritualistic sigils scrawled in forgotten corners, and the omnipresent sense that the house itself is complicit in the children’s terror. The Philippous’ command of light, silence, and suggestion recalls the best of arthouse horror, yet their distinct voice remains—raw, inventive, and fearless.
While Talk To Me was propelled by the raw energy of youth—a ghostly game gone awry, the supernatural as a reckless thrill—Bring Her Back is mature, patient, and thematically rich. The supernatural here is not a fleeting presence, but a force embedded in ritual and history, shaping and consuming its victims over time. The brothers’ evolution is palpable: they have moved from adolescent bravado to a nuanced exploration of the terrors that lie beneath the surface of everyday life.
The film’s emotional anchor is veteran actress Sally Hawkins, whose portrayal of the enigmatic foster mother is both mesmerizing and deeply chilling. Hawkins brings a layered complexity to her role, oscillating effortlessly between warmth and menace, and imbuing even the quietest moments with a sense of profound unease. This is an outstanding performance—a masterclass in understated horror that will linger in viewers’ minds long after the credits roll.
Equally impressive is the supporting cast of young actors in the roles of the children. Their performances are raw, authentic, and heartbreakingly vulnerable, drawing the audience into the emotional core of the story and heightening the film’s disturbing impact. The interplay between Hawkins and the younger cast members is riveting, grounding the film’s supernatural elements in real, aching humanity.
Bring Her Back is, without doubt, the most disturbing commercial horror film of 2025 so far—a work that unsettles not just with shocks, but with its lingering sense of psychological and emotional unease. The Philippou brothers have crafted a film that is not only an exceptional entry in the genre but also a bold artistic statement, pushing the boundaries of what horror can achieve.
For fans of horror and arthouse alike, Bring Her Back is essential viewing—an unnerving, unforgettable descent into darkness, led by a stellar cast and visionary filmmakers at the height of their powers.
Friday, 1 August, in cinemas in the UK and South Africa.
-Dirk Lombard Fourie