BRING HER BACK
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, and Sally Anne-Upton
Directors: Danny and Michael Philippou
NICK
Although I still prefer Talk to Me, Danny and Michael Philippou's follow-up, Bring Her Back is a very strong effort. Where their first feature was a horror film with elements of grief, this one feels like a film about grief with horror elements. The devastating examination of loss overtakes the moments of shock and terror (though they still exist) to create something deeply unsettling, yet almost touching. It's a depth that has been evident in the Philippou brothers' first two films, and something that is bound to bring me back for their next one.
ADRIANO
Paired with Talk To Me, despite being a downgrade, Bring Her Back shows that Danny and Michael Philippou are excellent horror filmmakers. From the shot compositions to the slow-yet-tense pacing throughout, the atmosphere delivers a strong sense of unease. Unfortunately, although the horror is effective, once the dust settles, I can't help but think everything was in service of the directors' needing a reaction to the arbitrarily bizarre events and gross elements. I am not saying shock isn't called for in horror, but here, it feels desperate.
QUENTIN
I’m in the minority when it comes to The Philippou Brothers’ Talk to Me (it’s meh), and unfortunately, their latest, Bring Her Back, didn’t win me over either. Granted, they have a knack for shooting a scene, creating tension and creepiness in equal measure through unsettling imagery. However, Danny Philippou’s (and Bill Hinzman’s) writing leaves a lot to be desired. If a story is a journey from Point A to Point B, the beginning and end points here are clear, but the route connecting them is full of poor explanations and plot holes. Disturbing scenes are cool, I guess, but I need the basic narrative elements too.
