A24 has once again ventured into the depths of psychological terror with Bring Her Back, the upcoming horror film from directors Danny and Michael Philippou. Following the massive success of Talk to Me, the Philippou brothers return with a sinister new story that blends supernatural horror with unsettling familial dynamics. The first trailer offers a glimpse into a nightmare laced with eerie VHS-style footage, disturbing rituals, and a foster home shrouded in mystery.
Bringing Fans Back To The Beginning…
Bring Her Back follows a brother and sister who move in with a new foster mother, only to uncover a terrifying ritual taking place within their home. Starring Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Olga Miller, Johan Wren Phillips, and Sally-Anne Upton, the film is co-written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman and is slated for release on May 30th, 2025. From the opening moments of the trailer, tension grips the audience as Hawkins’ character is seen recording cryptic, unsettling footage. While initially portrayed as a seemingly kind foster parent, it soon becomes clear that something far more sinister lurks beneath the surface. Meanwhile, one of the foster children exudes an eerie presence, hinting at a deeper and more terrifying truth.
Nostalgia Meets New Age
One of the most striking aspects of Bring Her Back is its commitment to blending traditional filmmaking with stylistic horror elements. The use of VHS-style footage within the trailer is more than just a nod to the found-footage subgenre—it actively contributes to the film’s immersive atmosphere. By evoking the grainy, unsettling visuals of films like The Blair Witch Project and V/H/S, Bring Her Back crafts a disorienting, almost voyeuristic horror experience. This stylistic choice not only enhances the film’s tone but also serves to lure audiences into its nightmarish reality.
A24 has long been synonymous with thought-provoking and deeply unsettling horror, and Bring Her Back appears to be set to follow in the footsteps of Hereditary and Talk to Me. The presence of a sinister foster mother immediately positions her as a central figure in the film’s terror, but the introduction of a mysterious, quiet child with an unusual birthmark suggests a more complex interplay of horror tropes. A24 has previously explored the eerie child archetype, but Bring Her Back has the potential to either embrace or subvert this trope in unexpected ways.
The Philippou brothers’ previous film, Talk to Me, proved to be a box office phenomenon, grossing $91.9 million and cementing its place as A24’s third highest-grossing film of all time. With that built-in audience and the continued rise of atmospheric horror, Bring Her Back is poised to captivate and terrify viewers in equal measure. As its May release date approaches, horror fans will undoubtedly be excited to see whether this film can deliver the same level of shock and ingenuity that made the directors’ previous work such a standout.
Nonetheless, with its unsettling visuals, psychological terror, and the Philippou brothers’ signature tension-building techniques, Bring Her Back is shaping up to be one of 2024’s most gripping horror experiences.