Bring Her Back

Bring a strong stomach to Bring Her Back.

The latest creeper from the Australian brothers Danny and Michael Philippou (Talk to Me) features some of the most graphic and realistic body horror in recent cinema. Yet while the bloody, disgusting imagery is catnip for genre freaks, it's the sustained intense tone and gutting portrayal of grief that make the film borderline great.

Following disturbing opening footage of dark deeds captured on handheld camera, the filmmakers quickly earn sympathy for blind Piper (Sora Wong, impressive in her film debut) as she's unknowingly mocked by a trio of fellow teen girls at a bus stop. Far more significant trauma awaits Piper and her stepbrother Andy (Billy Barratt, Mary Poppins Returns), and the fierce loyalty they have for each other makes rooting for their well-being a cinch.

Intensifying that investment is the damn near impossibility of trusting their new foster mom, Laura (Sally Hawkins). Not only does she seem to have it in for Andy, but she's oddly coy about and protective of the house’s fourth guest — a gaunt, “selectively mute” tween named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips).

As the siblings attempt to adjust to their surroundings, Bring Her Back adopts sinister vibes reminiscent of A24 peer Ari Aster’s films. Along with a pervading sense of dread similar to that of Midsommar, the cult/supernatural elements of Hereditary gradually become more pronounced, and their combination results in a wealth of heartpounding moments.

While Hawkins shines in a rare horror role and Wong and Barratt do all that's asked of them in the thankless victim roles, Phillips steals the show. Visually creepy from his introductory scene, the young actor boldly gives himself over to the Philippous as a sacrifice to cinema, and the lengths he goes to have himself physically manipulated is nothing short of extraordinary.

A far more complete and engaging film than Talk to Me, this sophomore effort shows far greater maturity and sophistication from the Philippou siblings, as well as a willingness to take big risks with a much more complex narrative. And though its bubonic dark subject matter makes Bring Her Back the far weightier of the two, that very willingness to plumb the depths of human suffering (without losing all sense of humanity in the process) renders it the significantly richer and rewarding experience.

Grade: B-plus. Rated R. Now playing at AMC River Hills 10, Carolina Cinemark, and Regal Biltmore Grande.

(Photo: A24)