Bring Her Back

So happy when this came on for AMC's Mystery Movie Monday!

I will start by saying it is not what I expected based on the trailers. The gritty video recordings are present but not a big feature of this movie like Sinister (great movie btw). And it is high definition, aka not like Skinamarink.

So what is it? VERY graphic and mentally disturbing. The two main characters are half siblings; the brother is almost old enough to live on his own and the sister is about 13yrs old and almost completely visually impaired. Her visual impairment makes her reliant on others to describe the world around her. This makes her relationships to others and her fearful moments very interesting. Her and her brother are quite lovable, and the acting is phenomenal. You really get attached to the characters and feel their dread alongside them. The storyline is unique as well; I definitely haven't seen anything like it.

I'd recommend it to any horror fan who can stomach blood and lots of tearing flesh. I have Talk to Me on DVD (by the same directors), so I'm looking forward to giving that a watch once I've recovered from this one!

The second movie by RackaRacka is a good companion piece to Talk To Me. Like that movie, this one is filled with interesting and innovative camerawork, leading to some truly excellent cinematography. Some of the transitions are so smooth, you don't even realize what happened. It can also shock you with staggering brutality and disturbing sequences that punctuate the bleakness. The main difference between the two is the pacing. I think Talk To Me ratchets up fairly quickly and ends up feeling like a constant ride. Bring Her Back is more of a slow burn, with some of its first horror sequences occuring around the midpoint of the movie (opening aside). That's not necessarily a bad thing since this movie dials up the family drama leading to a more compelling cast of characters compared to their first movie. Bring Her Back also feels a lot more personal and intimate, an exploration of grief, versus being an attempt at making an allegory about larger thematic ideas. The acting is phenomenal across the board, with all 4 main characters all bringing fantastic emotional and physical range. It's honestly a very engaging and intense movie that forced me to look away and squeal at times, so in a lot of ways, it wholeheartedly succeeds at what it is trying to do. The main criticisms I can see from general audiences are that the ending can feel slightly unsatisfying. It's not a bad ending, it just feels slightly off and incomplete just in terms of pacing even though I think it resolves everything properly. Another criticism is that there are clearly rules related to the supernatural element in this movie, but the movie never explicitly explains them like in so many other horror movies (including Talk To Me). I had no issue understanding enough, but the movie never delves into the setup of how the supernatural worked or how it became connected to these specific events which might frustrate a few viewers. Also, with the title and the general setup of the movie, it isn't particularly hard to figure out what is going on and where the movie is headed. I think some might also find that last part a negative, but I think the inevitability really builds the tension and bleakness and makes the slow-burn work. Even if I suspect not everyone in my audience enjoyed this movie, I do think if you like your horror bleak, disturbing, intense, and filled with strong cinematography and performances (or you just enjoyed Talk To Me), you should watch this.

Very excited to see what this duo does next.

A movie that keeps your interest while reworking old tropes and throwing in a few shocks. Outstanding performance by Sora Wong (who is sight impaired).

Bring Her Back is a difficult watch. The story is unrelentingly bleak, with no comfortable resolutions. While the premise isn't entirely original, the film stands out with its impressive production values and characters. What truly sets it apart, however, is the emotional complexity of the antagonist—a powerful aspect that adds a layer of uncomfortable depth. This is a film that's hard not to appreciate, even though it is planted firmly in some very disturbing ground.

Damn Danny Philippou, tone it down a notch why dontcha

Too self absorbed to allow audiences tropes or plot devices that allow them to root for characters or see progression, but too sloppy to not lean on them when convenient and frustrating for the audience. Talk to me this is not, no biting social commentary to be found here or clever analogies, just the usual drivel about some vague gesture to mental health and grief

The Philippou Nrothers show they can ratchet up the bleakness and continue to deliver pure horror. A really well made movie that makes you wallow in the dread. I really look forward to what else they have for us in the future even if this didn’t fully land for me.