acid reflects

Bring Her Back should come with a trigger warning. It’s actually quite the sad psychological tale about obsession, abuse, and trauma. And love. It is about love, both the kind and the cruel types. That just happened to be wrapped in skin upon skin of the supernatural and toe-curling body horror.

So even if I say that it’s more of a sad story than a horror one, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe to see this all by yourself at night, even with the lights on. You’ll be pulling that blanket over your head and calling out for your mama.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD, BE WARNED.

SPOILER WARNING AGAIN. Proceed with caution.

Within minutes after the opening credits, the film would have already established this special, tender bond between teen siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong). Seventeen-year-old Andy has been taking care of his younger, partially blind stepsister Piper ever since they found their father dead in an accident at the home. Andy would be applying for full guardianship of Piper in a few months when he turns eighteen. In the meantime, Social Services have sent the siblings to Laura (Sally Hawkins), a former counsellor who was already fostering a mute boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips).

Andy is uneasy at Laura’s home, while Piper seems to adjust quite well, and we get to see why right away. As soon as the siblings set foot in her house, Laura has “red flags” written all over her deceitful face. Her fragile frame belies a cruel plan to turn the siblings against each other with the ultimate goal of keeping only Piper. Doesn’t care for Andy at all. But Laura is on a deadline.

Hold on. I forgot to mention that the film opens with bloody scenes of a creepy, occultish ritual that has been recorded on tape.

Behind closed doors, Laura would watch this tape repeatedly. By day, Laura goes through the motions of taking care of the siblings. Andy would be gaslit, and Piper would be doted upon. All the while, Oliver would be coming and going around them like a zombie with a lingering hunger that Laura wasn’t addressing upfront.

Sally Hawkins’ Laura is a creeping menace – a lying, manipulative, psychopathic monster hidden behind a friendly smile that makes your skin crawl and wish that you could shout to Andy that she has demonic plans to unalive them siblings. Hawkins – stuttering and all – is that good in this film.

Australian directing brothers Danny and Michael Phillipou made sure that the audience would care for the siblings (and to a degree, Oliver, too) for this movie to work. The film takes its time to establish the bond between the two. Barratt and Wong were so good as the siblings. It was stressful to watch them get manipulated by Laura, and heartbreaking as they eventually detached because of Laura. Barratt won an International Emmy for his performance in the 2019 drama Responsible Child at age 13, so he’s being consistent with his craft here. Wong, however, is a revelation as this is her first acting job.

But also, like their previous hit Talk To Me, the directors balance character journeys with building up the tension. We get to see who the siblings are, why Andy behaves that way, why Oliver behaves that way, and ultimately why Laura does what she does in the film. As I have mentioned, BHB is a story of love – the kind and the cruel types sometimes at the same time – that leads to deadly consequences. I don’t think the filmmakers were trying to make a blanket statement about how adults have made a cruel world for children. There are at least two adult characters who are shown to help the younger characters, making it clear that Laura exhibits the deviant behavior here, not the kids or the other adults. Just her and her twisted faith. It’s not that cynical of a movie. The story may not be groundbreaking nor unforgettably unique, but the performances are definitely remarkable.

In the end, we are left with an emotionally devastating tragedy of how sometimes (or is it often?) adults fail children. Plus one very shattering scene that is sure to get the screams out of you.

Bring Her Back is simply one of the best films I have enjoyed this year. Easily one of my favorites of the year so far. Granted, I haven’t seen that many. But still, I applaud much.

Bring Her Back is in cinemas now.

Trailer link and images courtesy of Columbia Pictures Philippines.