In the realm of psychological horror, Bring Her Back emerges as one of the most unsettling films of the decade. Much like Hereditary, which blended family trauma with supernatural dread, this new horror drama from directors Danny and Michael Philippou explores grief through a terrifying lens. Anchored by a haunting performance from young actor Jonah Wren Phillips, Bring Her Back captures raw emotion, unsettling violence, and the devastating effects of trauma on children.
A Haunting Story of Grief, Loss, and Obsession
Bring Her Back follows Andy (Billy Barratt) and his younger sister Piper (Sora Wong), two adopted siblings placed into foster care after the sudden death of their single father. While Andy is close to reaching legal adulthood — and thus eligibility to become Piper’s guardian — both are taken into the home of Laura (Sally Hawkins), a grieving therapist who recently lost her own daughter.
In Laura’s home, the siblings encounter Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), a speechless and feral child raised in eerie isolation. Oliver’s behavior quickly turns erratic and violent, making the home an unpredictable and dangerous place. As Andy tries to protect Piper, who is blind, he becomes increasingly concerned with Laura’s obsessive attachment to Oliver and the disturbing rituals that seem to define the household.
Oliver: A Silent Monster or a Victim of Abuse?
Oliver’s characterization is what makes Bring Her Back so unique — and so chilling. Unlike traditional horror films where children may express their fears or rage, Oliver is emotionally void. He does not speak, react with typical emotions, or appear to feel pain. One of the film’s most unsettling scenes involves Oliver biting into a table and a knife with no visible reaction. His behavior points to deep psychological and possibly supernatural damage, intensified by Laura’s manipulative parenting.
Rather than focusing on shock value, the film presents Oliver’s condition as a metaphor for childhood trauma. Laura, driven by grief, has molded Oliver into a replacement for her lost daughter, stripping him of identity and agency. Andy, meanwhile, is caught between fear and empathy — his own history of abuse making him sensitive to Oliver’s silent suffering. This layered dynamic adds emotional depth to the horror, grounding it in realism.
Jonah Wren Phillips Delivers a Breakout Horror Performance
Jonah Wren Phillips’s portrayal of Oliver is fearless and physically demanding. With almost no dialogue, Phillips conveys pain, danger, and emotional emptiness through movement, facial expression, and body language. His performance elevates Bring Her Back beyond traditional horror, transforming it into a psychological study of powerlessness, manipulation, and inherited trauma.
The film avoids excessive jump scares or plot twists, instead relying on an atmosphere of dread, sharp cinematography, and raw performances. Phillips’s dedication to the character helps Bring Her Back stand alongside films like Hereditary, The Babadook, and The Orphanage as a modern horror classic.
A Bold Addition to Modern Horror
While Bring Her Back contains satanic and supernatural undertones, its real horror lies in its exploration of child abuse, psychological control, and unresolved grief. The Philippou brothers deliver a film that is both terrifying and emotionally resonant, driven by a young actor whose performance may define his future career.
With its tense narrative, disturbing themes, and unforgettable characters, Bring Her Back cements its place as a powerful and haunting cinematic experience.
