Bring Her Back (2025), directed by Michael and Danny Philippou, is a chilling exploration of how far people will go to reverse loss. The story follows orphaned siblings Andy and Piper, who are placed under the care of Laura (Sally Hawkins) after their father’s death. As they settle into their new home, strange rituals, eerie VHS tapes, and whispers of resurrection blur the line between love and madness. From the start, the film sets a tone of quiet unease that builds toward full-blown dread.
Sally Hawkins delivers a mesmerizing and unsettling performance as Laura, a woman whose motherly warmth masks a sinister obsession. Her portrayal balances grief and delusion so effectively that the audience never fully knows whether to pity or fear her. Billy Barratt and Sora Wong give emotionally grounded performances as the vulnerable siblings, their fear and loyalty providing the film’s emotional heartbeat. Piper’s visual impairment adds a unique perspective to the horror, using sound and blurred vision to evoke genuine disorientation and fear.
Visually, the film is stunning and suffocating at once. The Philippou brothers craft an atmosphere that is as tactile as it is terrifying, dark corners, flickering lights, and muffled whispers create a constant sense of unease. The sound design amplifies this effect, turning ordinary noises into instruments of dread. Every shot feels deliberate, reinforcing the themes of blindness, literal and emotional that define the story.
However, Bring Her Back isn’t without flaws. Its pacing drags in the middle, and the narrative sometimes leans too heavily on familiar horror tropes. The violent imagery can also feel excessive, at times threatening to overshadow the emotional core. Yet, even when it stumbles, the film remains gripping because it treats horror not as spectacle, but as an extension of grief, a mirror to human desperation.
Ultimately, Bring Her Back stands out as one of 2025’s most ambitious horror films. It’s not an easy watch, disturbing, slow-burning, and emotionally heavy, but it lingers long after the credits roll. For viewers who appreciate psychological horror rooted in pain and longing, this film offers both chills and catharsis, proving that sometimes the scariest thing isn’t death itself, but what we’re willing to do to undo it.
Some notable Quotes from Bring Her Back (2025)
“I’ve Spoken With An Angel. It Showed Me How I Can Be A Mother Again.”
Spoken by Laura, this line encapsulates her desperate grief and chilling drive behind the film’s central occult ritual.
“Some People Believe The Spirit Stays In The Body For Months After Death.”
Laura says this to Andy, reflecting the film’s eerie exploration of death and the afterlife.
“How Did You Cope With Cathy Being Gone? ‘I Didn’t.'”
Exchange between Andy and Laura, starkly expressing unresolved grief.
“Listen, Listen, Listen. We Can Bring Her Back.”
Laura’s haunting proclamation, directly referencing the film’s title and obsessive quest.
“I’m going to drown you, love.”
A chilling, aggressive remark from Laura that captures her volatile state.
“Respect my fucking privacy.”
Laura’s terse demand, emblematic of her isolation.
These lines highlight the film’s tension, grief, and unsettling psychological drama, helping define “Bring Her Back” as a standout horror experience.
