Funereal Plots

Horror Cinema reviews

Matthew M. Bartlett

Bring Her Back

Writer/Director: Danny and Michael Philippou

I saw on social media a horror writer complaining about a theme they felt was overused in the genre: trying to resurrect a loved one who has died. Good luck getting rid of that one. It’s as intrinsic to the genre as the werewolf and the vampire. As long as death exists—and it shows no signs of going away, no matter the advances in medicine—we will explore the ways people will try to reverse it, and consider what will go terribly wrong when they make the attempt.

17-year-old Andy (Billy Barratt) and his half-blind sister Piper (Sora Wong) lose their father and are forced to cohabitate with a step-parent. Andy could become Piper’s legal guardian when he turns 18 in three months, but a trouble past puts that strongly desired arrangement at risk. Laura (Sally Hawkins, brilliant in a difficult role), said guardian, is a former counselor who’s fostering another child—a mute boy named Oli, who is somehow frail and menacing at the same time. Laura had a daughter who died by drowning. She immediately works to try to sabotage Andy.

The movie starts off boldly, showing a videotaped occult ritual that is squalid and violent. How that tape connects to the events of the movie unfolds darkly and with wince-worthy scenes that make the viewer turn away from the screen. We see more of the ritual we witnessed at the start of the movie. When Oli’s true identity is revealed, the situation deteriorates.

Bring Her Back is, as they say, not for the faint of heart. There’s regurgitation, self-mutilation, the consumption of corpses, and a . I tend to look unfavorably upon movies where the horror is a metaphor for grief. This isn’t quite that—grief is the engine, but the horrors are stark and unyielding, effectively offset by some moments of humor, though less so than the other excellent horror feature of 2025, Zach Creggers’ A+ movie Weapons. Bring Her Back is a few steps up from the pair’s previous feature Talk to Me. It’s one of the best horror movies in recent times, managing to be intelligent, emotionally intelligent, and balls-out bonkers violent. I look forward to the Phillippous’ next (three-word-title?) outing. If their trajectory is like that of Creggers, they are moviemakers to watch (from between your fingers).