Bring Her Back (2025) – A Haunting Ritual of Grief, Loss & Horror

Bring Her Back is a supernatural horror film released in 2025, directed by Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou (the Philippou brothers) who previously gained acclaim for Talk to Me.

The screenplay is by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman.

Producers include Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton, under banners such as Causeway Films and RackaRacka.

The film premiered theatrically on May 29, 2025 in Australia and May 30, 2025 in North America.

Cast & Key Credits

Directors: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Writers: Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman

Main Cast:

• Sally Hawkins as Laura, the foster mother with a mysterious grief.
• Billy Barratt as Andy, older stepbrother to Piper.
• Sora Wong as Piper, Andy’s visually impaired stepsister.
• Jonah Wren Phillips as Oliver, a mute child in Laura’s home.
• Mischa Heywood, Stephen Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton appear in supporting roles.

Other technical credits:

• Cinematography by Aaron McLisky
• Editing by Geoff Lamb
• Music / Score credited in some sources as Cornel Wilczek (or alternate transliteration)

Plot Summary

The story begins with the death of the father of two step-siblings, Andy and Piper. Andy, aged 17, and Piper, partially sighted, are placed in a foster home under Laura, a woman grieving her own deceased daughter, Cathy.

Piper’s visual impairment is central to her character: she sees shapes and lights, not clear images.

From early on, Laura shows favoritism toward Piper and strange behavior toward Andy. Andy applies to gain custody of Piper when he turns 18, putting him in direct conflict with Laura, who uses psychological manipulation to undermine him.

The tension escalates when occult undertones emerge: Laura retrieves a strand of the father’s hair from his corpse, and rituals involving resurrection begin to surface. She ultimately intends to use occult methods, including possession of Oliver (the mute boy), to bring back her dead daughter.

In the climax, Laura attempts to drown Piper in a ritual, Oliver becomes a vessel in the ritual, and the film reveals darker truths: the ritual’s cost, consumed bodies, transformation, and guilt.

It is a nightmarish tale of grief, possession, and the extremes to which a mother will go to “bring her back.”

Themes & Style

Grief and Obsession: Laura’s inability to accept her daughter’s death drives the horror. The film explores how grief can twist into something dangerous.

Vision & Blindness (Literal and Metaphorical): Piper’s visual impairment mirrors the characters’ inability to see truth. The film uses sight, darkness, and perception as motifs.

Possession & Ritual Magic: The occult ritual at the heart of the story connects possession, resurrection, and body horror elements. Oliver becomes a vessel in the ritual.

Family & Betrayal: The tension between siblings, the foster mother, and hidden agendas forms the emotional core.

Psychological Horror vs Jump Scares: Critics and reviews highlight that Bring Her Back often builds tension atmospherically, rather than constantly relying on cheap scares.

Reception & Critical Response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Bring Her Back holds an 89% Tomatometer with strong praise for Sally Hawkins and the film’s atmospheric dread.

Variety describes it as a “hallucinatory domestic nightmare” — messy at times but its emotional core and horror texture make it linger.

The Guardian’s review emphasizes the film’s emotional underpinnings — especially Laura’s grief and the siblings’ vulnerability — and praises Sora Wong’s quietly powerful presence.

Paste Magazine reports the film starts with the father’s death, introduces tension over custody, and reveals the occult plot involving possession via ritual, stating the film is a “daunting exercise in unpleasantness.”

Reviews note that while the film succeeds in atmosphere and performances, some narrative and emotional threads feel underdeveloped in the editing and pacing.

Audience reviews on IMDb call it “emotionally unsettling,” “beautifully acted,” and acclaim Hawkins’ performance as “devastating.”

Ratings & Content Advice

• The film is rated R for strong disturbing violent content, grisly images, graphic nudity, underage drinking, and strong language.
• Content warnings include violence, gore, disturbing imagery.

Conclusion & Where to Watch

Bring Her Back (2025) is a grim, disturbing horror film that merges psychological dread with occult horror. Its strengths lie in performance (especially Hawkins and Wong), its visual tension, and its thematic ambition — grief, possession, and family trauma. Some narrative threads may feel loose, but the emotional impact and the nightmare logic linger.

As of now, Bring Her Back is primarily in theaters; streaming releases are expected later (e.g. on Max, tied to A24’s deals) but have not been confirmed.

Watch Bring Her Back on YoMovies (HD streaming when available) — a place to experience horror, grief, and the darkness that haunts family ties.

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