Bring Her Back Movie Review

Bring Her Back (2025)

Rent Bring Her Back on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman
Directed by: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Starring: Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally Hawkins
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

Verdict
If you like horror and can stand a few very gross and gory scenes, this is a great entry into the genre. The pacing and plot progression does a great job of drawing you in. This explains just enough to keep you intrigued without trying to over explain and grind the plot to a halt. This deals with a kidnapping, some kind of possession cult, and even trying to defy death. Children are caught in the middle of it. While we can't condone the foster mother's actions, as they're abhorrent, we can understand the why and that's important for any villain.
Watch It.

Review
With the poster of this movie, you know this thing is going to be weird.

Siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper's (Sora Wong) father passes which lands them in foster care. Their father's death is unclear, but it seems like it could have been an overdose. That leads to questions of their home life that aren't answered. They're sent to Laura (Sally Hawkins) who already has one foster child, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips).

Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong play Laura, Andy, Piper

Laura is weird, and in the horror genre we know that's a bad sign. At the kids' father's funeral, she takes a lock of his hair and forces Andy to kiss his father. He's visually uncomfortable and she persists. Then she kisses the body on the lips. Laura states she was a counselor, but I have a hard time believing it. After the funeral she parties with Andy and Piper which seems irresponsible. She had locked Oliver in his room before they left. How does she not check on him all day long? She hasn't even realized Oliver has escaped.

Laura is trying to separate Andy and Piper psychologically. She's making him think he's wetting the bed as a trauma response. She tries to stoke his grief over how his father beat him and Piper was his favorite. Andy has shielded Piper from that, never taking it out on her. Laura is using that. I wondered what Laura's goal is. This Oliver kid isn't right, and that gets gross. We know this is going to break down, it's just a matter of when and what will be revealed.

Sally Hawkins, Jonah Wren Phillips play Laura, Oliver

It's confirmed that Laura did lose her child, correction, her child died. She definitely is not lost. Laura has these videos that seem to be based in a cult. Where do you even get videos like that? She uses these videos to keep Oliver mute by casting some kind of spell on him. It's only a matter of time before she uses these chants on Andy and Piper.

The pacing of this is well done as it continues to increase tension. We're getting these new reveals as this situation becomes more fraught. Oliver continues to become more strange, but I began wondering what he actually is. Oliver begins consuming everything, even his own arm. I don't mind horror, but when it gets gross just for the sake of it, that steers me away.

Ultimately Laura's plan is to replace her daughter. Her grief has caused her to make a series of terrible choices. These cult videos provide a means of control and manipulation over people. The movie doesn't explain them, nor should it. There's no way provide a good answer. Trying would only stall the expert pacing. Even the conclusion gets it right, balancing tone, story, and expectations.