Indie powerhouse A24 seems to have unleashed another modern horror classic with new 2025 release Bring Her Back follows a group of orphaned siblings who are put in a foster home, where they learn their new caretaker has practiced some dark rituals following the death of her child. The specifics beyond that have been kept tightly under wraps. It will open opposite Karate Kid: Legends this weekend, and though it is less high-profile, there is plenty of buzz surrounding it.

Even before its widespread theatrical release, A24's Bring Her Back had already garnered a scary high 90% rating from 67 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critical consensus describing it as a "domestic nightmare" with scares drawn from actor Sally Hawkins' performance. This early critical reception seems to have put the film on the path to becoming both another modern horror classic and a box office success for the Philippous. From the performances to the emotional story to the intense scares, there are multiple reasons why critics have been raving about Bring Her Back.

6 Sally Hawkins' Performance

Hawkins Unleashes An Unforgettable Horror Villain In Laura

While the majority of Bring Her Back's cast consists of young, relatively unknown actors, at the forefront of the film is two-time Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, who is famous for her roles in The Shape of Water, Blue Jasmine, and the first two Paddington films. She portrays Laura, Andy and Piper's foster mother, who is responsible for all the creepy events in Bring Her Back. Laura is very different from Hawkins' other characters, as she's far more devious and less kind-hearted, displaying her full range as an actor.

Carlos Aguilar of IGN Movies wrote that Hawkins "shifts between bone-chilling malevolence and moving desperation" with her performance in Bring Her Back. Similarly, Screen International's Tim Grierson wrote that Hawkins delivers a "fiendish" performance in the film, claiming the actor "[hints] at her character's wickedness before delivering a portrait of unspeakable evil that is sinister in its subtlety." The promise of seeing Hawkins in a very different kind of role already made Bring Her Back enticing, and it seems her performance will live up to expectations.

5 Bring Her Back Features A Talented Cast Outside Of Sally Hawkins

It Is Elevated By The Performances Of Its Young Actors

Though Hawkins is a force to be reckoned with in this film, Bring Her Back doesn't just hinge on her acting talents to succeed. It also reportedly features strong performances from actors Sora Wong and Billy Barratt, the latter of whom previously won an International Emmy Award at age 13 for his role in the TV film Responsible Child. The two stars play Piper and Andy, respectively, the siblings brought into Laura's care. This suggests they will be the focal point of the movie, meaning much of its success will hinge on how they perform.

Horror Press' Xero Gravity wrote that the bond between Wong and Barratt's sibling characters in Bring Her Back is tangible, and that viewers will feel how the film "stretches and disrupts their chemistry" all the way to the third act. Likewise, Caralynn Matassa of CBR claims that the film's core cast makes it easy for the audience to "get invested in their stories from the jump." Collider's Ross Bonaime even highlighted Jonah Wren Phillips' performance as the mostly silent Oliver, calling it "one of the best child horror performances in years."

4 The Film Features A Creepy Atmosphere

Bring Her Back Pulls Audiences Into An Unnerving World

With Talk to Me, the Philippous proved that they knew how to build tension without relying on jump scares, and this creative approach seems to carry into Bring Her Back. In a year where the biggest horror movies have so far been Sinners and Final Destination Bloodlines, it seems there is a continued appetite for unique depictions of terror. Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote that the film presents a "domestic nightmare fever dream" in suburban Australia, with the Philippous using their "impressionistic" style to create a "lavish sensation of malevolent shock."

Both Sinners and Final Destination Bloodlines earned positive reviews, scoring 97% and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively.

While Gleiberman claims the film's story could feature more concrete logic, he argues that the filmmakers compensated for that by prioritizing the creation of an eerie viewing experience, which starts right from the beginning with chilling and grainy VHS footage of a frightening cult ritual. If Bring Her Back is an immersive viewing experience, that might enhance the success of its theatrical run. The movie's reviews are so far making the case that it is best viewed in a theater, and that the Philippous are great at crafting tense universes.

3 Bring Her Back Explores The Horrors Of Death And Unresolved Grief

The Film Deals With Heavy Themes In A Terrifying Fashion

Similar to their previous film, Talk to Me, the Philippous explore grief and loss with Bring Her Back. Both films present their characters struggling to cope with the death of a family member. In the new film, Andy and Piper have lost their father and Laura lost her daughter, both from tragic accidents. Grief has long been a fertile theme for movies, as it is a universal concept that can be depicted in myriad different ways. It can be especially strong when used in horror movies, and many recent additions to the genre have dealt with it.

In Bring Her Back, while Andy and Piper try to cope with their loss, Laura resorts to some unhealthy, line-crossing methods involving some form of necromancy, like the characters in Talk to Me, to try and get rid of her pain. Bonaime of Collider wrote that, in examining personal loss, "Bring Her Back captures the darkness and fear of losing someone, all while making one of the year's best horror films." This suggests the movie somehow manages to be inherently relatable, even while exploring a horrifying paranormal scenario.

2 The Film Features Some Intense Horror

Bring Her Back Holds Up Next To Talk To Me In Of Terror

A huge part of a horror movie's success is how scary it is, and Bring Her Back seems to live up to expectations, especially after the Philippous set a high bar for themselves with Talk to Me. AV Club's Matt Schimkowitz singled out the film's scare factor, writing, "Like a punk band turning four chords into pure angst, Bring Her Back turns familiar trauma-based horror into a traumatic experience." Horror fans will likely be served well by this film, though it sounds like it will resonate most strongly with those who prefer intense frights to superficial scares.

Talk to Me is infamous for its extreme depictions of violence and self-mutilation, with the film at one point showing a possessed teenager bashing his face into a table and trying to pull one of his eyes out. If Bring Her Back is anywhere close to reaching that level of horror, then the Philippous' new film is not for the faint of heart. The trailers for Bring Her Back imply that this is the case, as they feature gory images of decaying and twisting bodies, likely from Satanic rituals of demonic possession. It does not seem to be a movie that cheapens its scares.

1 Bring Her Back Presents An Incredible, Depressing Story

It Holds Nothing Back With Its Bleak Narrative, And It Works

Horror movies aren't necessarily a person's go-to film for when they want to feel good. Considering that Bring Her Back deals with depressing issues like death and grief, it was never going to be the most uplifting film of all time. However, like Talk to Me, Bring Her Back reportedly tells another harrowing and tragic tale as its characters are consumed by grief and supernatural forces as they try to raise the dead in the vein of Stephen King's Pet Sematary. It's a familiar story, but also one that will surely have its own twists and turns.

Critics have indicated that the film's dark and sorrowful story has really stuck with them while still leaving a positive impression. The Curb's Nadine Whitney claims Bring Her Back is "as unutterably sad as it is disturbingly frightening." On a similar note, The AU Review's Peter Gray said that the Philippous delivered a "haunting, bleak tale of grief that stands as a testament to their prowess as storytellers." Good scares need a solid story to stand on, and this movie sounds like it will deliver on that front. The current critical outlook is very, very positive and bodes well for its prospects.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, IGN Movies, Horror Press, CBR, Collider, Variety, AV Club, The Curb, The AU Review