Foster scare

Sally Hawkins and directors Danny and Michael Philippou discuss loss and gore in their upcoming horror film Bring Her Back. Lynn Rusk reports

- Lynn Rusk

“It’s a delicate piece, dealing with delicate subject matter, albeit in a rather terrifying frame or mask,” says British actress Sally Hawkins.

The 49-year-old Golden Globe winner stars as Laura, a foster carer coping with the tragic loss of her own daughter in Bring Her Back, a new horror film from Australian twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou.

The story follows Andy, played by Billy Barratt, and his visually impaired sister Piper, portrayed by Sora Wong. After their father dies, they move in with Laura and her troubled foster son Oliver, played by Jonah Wren Phillips.

As they settle into their new home, the siblings begin to uncover the disturbing truth behind Oliver's erratic behaviour, his physical deterioration, and the eerie, abandoned swimming pool at the centre of Laura's property.

Sally, who has portrayed several maternal figures, including the warmhearted Mrs Brown in Paddington and the late Mrs Wonka in Wonka, takes a darker turn in Bring Her Back, stepping into the role of a sinister, emotionally complex matriarch.

The Shape Of Water actress says she was both deeply impressed by the Philippou brothers as she embraced her first role in the horror genre.

"Danny and Michael will storm the world. They have never-ending energy and drive, which can only inspire those around them," says Sally.

"They are so smart, so witty, and coupled with such emotional intelligence and integrity. I felt completely supported and trusted and given the space needed to do what I felt I needed to do."