REVIEW: Bring Her Back

Michael and Danny Philippou proved they were the real deal with Talk to Me, but following up a smash hit like that would be a daunting task for anyone. Did they match it, or did they fall short?

Bring Her Back follows siblings Andy and Piper who encounter a sinister ritual at the secluded house of their new foster mother, Laura. The story takes place in modern day Australia.

Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham, Paddington, Wonka) leads a cast of young actors. Sora Wong who plays Piper, had only done stage plays up to this point. Billy Barrett does a great job portraying older brother Andy. All three did very well but it was the unnerving performance from Jonah Wren Phillips as Oliver that really made it all work.

The aesthetic of Bring Her Back matched my expectations, and the eerie choice of music really helped build suspense and tension throughout. While we don't get to spend much time with Andy and Piper initially, their backstory is expertly told in later parts of the film with well-timed flashbacks and conversations. Visually the film looks good, and the dialogue cohesive and logical. There's little question as to motives and decisions made by our characters. If I did have one complaint it'd be a certain plot piece that never really gets answered.

Grief is a central theme in this movie. Death affects us all in different ways. Some die peacefully in their sleep surrounded by loved ones and some die tragically, ripped away from the Earth too soon. What's so compelling with Bring Her Back is each character's response to these bouts. It makes for great cinema. Unrelenting, we feel the pain they feel.

If you came for the scares, you may be disappointed. There aren't many moments of true terror. But the heaviness of the film's grief-stricken themes is enough to induce a fear all of its own.

What'd you think of Bring Her Back?

4/5