Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
The Phillipou brothers are back with their sophomore effort, “Bring Her Back”. This time, they explore the life of a troubled brother and sister who have recently lost their father. Andy, a good natured older brother, is very protective of his sister Piper. She struggles with partial blindness, elevating his concern for her. They are welcomed to a foster home by Laura, a mysterious woman with a dark secret. As Andy learns more about Laura, his concerns grow at an alarming rate. He begins to suspect that Laura’s past may be darker than she leads on, intent on using Piper for a horrifying purpose. Can Andy warn Piper about Laura’s dark plans before it’s too late?
Positives:
I give the Phillipou brothers immense credit for creating two unique horror films. Each has a distinct grim style that oozes an unsettling aesthetic. The viewer is constantly on edge, waiting for the unnerving events to take place. “Bring Her Back” continues this trend, highlighting the technical prowess these young filmmakers possess. Their commitment to telling original stories is evident, once again putting characters first. This film feels smaller scale than “Talk to Me”, mostly taking place at an isolated home in the middle of the woods. The rainy weather and claustrophobic environment Laura creates elevates the sense of dread throughout the story. We connect to Andy and Piper early on, slowly unraveling the trauma they have recently suffered. Andy’s past goes a bit further, having difficulties connecting with his father. This results in a complex and sympathetic backstory that helps us understand him that much more. But Laura’s motivations might be the most interesting. We learn that she recently lost a daughter, mirroring the grief these two young kids are experiencing. As her actions become more concerning, we see the terrifying motivations behind her decision to foster these two kids. Truly terrific character work here!
The film also utilizes practical effects to ratchet up the tension. There were a handful of sequences in the film that left an imprint on my psyche in a way I’ll never forget. Squeamish audiences should caution themselves if body horror makes them wince. Credit to the filmmakers for understanding how to truly get under the viewer’s skin. I was very invested in the story for the first eighty percent of the film as it finds numerous ways to explore grief in meaningful ways. The performances from the core cast are all excellent. Billy Barratt gives one of the most impressive performances by a young actor I’ve seen in quite some time. This role is layered and dense but he is up for the challenge. Sally Hawkins plays the demented Laura in such a convincing fashion that I hated looking at her picture after I saw the film. She truly conveys the passive aggressive nature of the character as she manipulates these children throughout the film. I couldn’t imagine anyone but Hawkins in this role as she switches from sweet to demented on the flip of a coin. The other two children give good performances but neither of them get quite as much material to chew on as Barrat and Hawkins.
Negatives:
“Bring Her Back” is mostly an excellent film. But due to the bleak and unforgiving nature of the conclusion, I cannot in good conscience tell prospective viewers to see the film unless they are prepared for a devastating experience. I have not left a movie feeling so sad in recent memory. In fact, this is one of the most depressing filmgoing experiences I’ve ever had. The last fifteen minutes of the film make a choice that will likely sour audiences who aren’t prepared for this kind of devastation. This choice goes against some of the themes explored throughout the film, highlighting the hopelessness of this experience rather than the salvation of overcoming difficult circumstances in life. Both Piper and Andy felt like they deserved some hope after the experiences they’ve gone through. Not a single character gets any kind of redemption or hope for the future. It is a film that is meant to shock the viewer in a very profound way. For me, I did not enjoy how hopeless the film made me feel. The Phillipou brothers concluded “Talk to Me” in a bleak way as well but that film’s conclusion made more sense. It dealt with the repercussions of getting involved with dark entities that will take advantage of poor decisions. This film felt like it took a baseball bat and kept hitting its characters over and over until they couldn’t move anymore. It was hard watching children who already had a difficult life go through such agony. It’s a shame the film chooses such a depressing avenue because most of the story is truly excellent.
Conclusion:
I wish I could rate “Bring Her Back” higher. As someone who loves the horror genre, the film makes a choice that concludes the film on a note so depressing that it brought the rest of the film down for me. I drove home afterwards feeling so uncomfortable that I needed to throw something more positive on to clear my head. I really wish the film didn’t choose to end these character’s story in such a bleak way because the craft, performances, and rich story all worked so well up until the last fifteen minutes. I would issue a staunch caution to those who get uncomfortable with children in peril, visceral body horror, and a story that highlights a horrible outcome for its characters. I commend the film for doing so much right but I would never watch this again…for my own sanity!
