Bring Her Back (2025) is a high-profile supernatural psychological horror film that blends family drama, occult ritual horror, and visceral body-horror imagery. Directed by Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou, and starring Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong and Jonah Wren Phillips, this English-language film premiered in late May 2025 with staggered release dates in Australia and the United States. 0
Movie Overview
Bring Her Back follows the aftermath of a family tragedy: after the death of their father, two young step-siblings are placed in the care of a foster mother whose benevolence soon reveals a darker, obsessive plan. What begins as a domestic drama evolves into a disturbing occult narrative when the foster mother, driven by grief, attempts to resurrect her lost daughter using ritualistic and transgressive methods. The film focuses tightly on character dynamics — grief, dependency, and the vulnerability of children in care — while using shocking, practical effects and a claustrophobic production design to escalate tension. Critics singled out Sally Hawkins’ performance as the film’s emotional and terrifying center. 1
The Philippou brothers (Danny and Michael) — who built a reputation with the breakout horror title “Talk to Me” and their RackaRacka filmmaking roots — co-direct with a visual approach that favors inventive practical effects, slow-burn dread, and sudden jolts of grotesque imagery. The screenplay credits go to Danny Philippou alongside Bill Hinzman, and production involved Causeway Films with international distribution handled by companies including Stage 6/Sony and A24 for select territories. 2
Attribute Details[]
- Title[Bring Her Back]
- Genre[Supernatural horror; psychological horror; drama]
- Language[English]
- Release Date[Australia: May 29, 2025; United States: May 30, 2025]
- Director[Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou]
- Writer[Danny Philippou; Bill Hinzman]
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Synopsis (expanded)
After their father dies, Andy and his blind half-sister Piper are placed with a seemingly caring foster mother, Laura (Sally Hawkins). The film opens with the fragile process of adjustment — new house, new rules, an attempt at normalcy interrupted by strange occurrences. Laura introduces them to Oliver, a mute foster child whose presence carries an immediate sense of unease. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear Laura is not merely grieving; she is attempting to reclaim her dead daughter Cathy by means of an occult ritual that invades the bodies and minds of the children around her. The ritual grows more horrific and intimate in the film’s middle act, culminating in a brutal, emotionally wrenching climax that asks whether love can justify monstrous acts. 4
Cast & Key Performances
The primary cast features Sally Hawkins as the foster mother Laura — a performance many reviewers called the film’s anchor for turning maternal grief into something chilling and unpredictable. Young actors Billy Barratt and Sora Wong play the orphaned step-siblings (Andy and Piper respectively), with Jonah Wren Phillips as Oliver, the mysterious and traumatized child at the center of the ritual. Commentators praised the commitment of the young performers under difficult material and singled out Hawkins for transforming her established screen persona into something far less comforting. 5
Production Notes
The Philippou brothers developed Bring Her Back following the success of Talk to Me. Principal photography began in mid-2024 with Causeway Films producing and financing support from local Australian bodies. The filmmakers leaned heavily on practical effects and an intentionally unsettling production design that keeps much of the film’s horror rooted in tactile, physical elements rather than overreliance on CGI. Several pieces about the film’s making highlight how the directors pushed for realism in the actors’ performances and on-set practical stunts, with Hawkins reportedly performing some of her own stunts. 6
Critical Reception & Themes
Critical reaction has skewed positive overall, with many reviewers praising the film’s willingness to pair gutting emotional stakes with horrific imagery. Aggregators and critics emphasize three recurring strengths: the central performance by Hawkins, the effective use of young actors to heighten vulnerability, and the Philippous’ confident control of tone and shock. Some critics — while admiring the craft — fault the picture for leaning too heavily on shocking sequences without always earning the deeper emotional resolution some viewers expect. Thematically, the film interrogates how grief can warp morality, the dangers of boundaryless caretaking, and the ways that trauma reverberates through families. 7
Why “Bring Her Back” Matters (SEO friendly takeaways)
For horror fans tracking the next wave of directors who balance arthouse sensibility with mainstream intensity, Bring Her Back positions the Philippou brothers as filmmakers expanding their range. The film’s mix of psychological tension and practical gore makes it a talking point for genre communities, awards juries for horror categories, and streaming/household viewers who hunt for unsettling, performance-led scare pieces. Because it premiered through established distributors and generated early critical momentum, “Bring Her Back” is likely to remain a reference point in conversations about modern occult family horror for 2025. 8
Where to Watch & Additional Resources
The film saw theatrical release in late May 2025 and has since become available on various VOD platforms and regional distributors (A24 handled U.S. distribution windows while Sony/Stage 6 managed other territories). For trailers and promotional clips, official channels such as the A24 trailer uploads on YouTube offer the clearest previews. Reviews from outlets like Decider, Time, and Rotten Tomatoes provide consensus and detailed breakdowns if you want critical context before viewing. 9
Closing Summary
Bring Her Back (2025) is a tightly focused, often brutal supernatural horror film that uses familial grief as the engine for its terror. Anchored by Sally Hawkins and staged by the visually daring Philippou brothers, the film walks a line between intimate character study and explicit horror spectacle. If you follow modern horror that prizes performances and practical effects — and you don’t shy away from intense material — Bring Her Back is one of 2025’s most talked-about genre entries. 10 Sources: IMDb, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes, official trailers and contemporary reviews.
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