'Bring Her Back' is a sad, disturbing tale

In an alternative timeline, we would have seen Australian twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou (known collectively as RackaRacka) take on the “Street Fighter” video game franchise on the big screen.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

However, they backed out in favor of directing a slower-paced followup to their debut film “Talk to Me” that is more in line with their sensibilities as horror storytellers and strengthens their case as one of the most promising director duos in Hollywood.

Now showing in Philippine cinemas, “Bring Her Back” focuses on 17-year-old Andy (played by Billy Barratt) and his visually impaired stepsister Piper (Sora Wong), who become orphans after their father trips and dies in the shower.

With Andy just three months shy of gaining guardianship once he turns 18, they are taken in by a foster parent named Laura (Sally Hawkins), who lost her daughter — also blind like Piper — to drowning in her swimming pool, which is now empty. They also meet Laura’s mute and eccentric foster son, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips).

Andy is bothered by Laura’s obvious favoritism toward Piper, her unconventional parenting style toward Ollie, and her overall behavior as a foster mother. He would later find out that they are unwilling participants in a terrifying ritual taking place.

Produced by A24 and distributed globally by Sony Pictures, “Bring Her Back” rolls family drama, psychological horror, and body horror into a disturbing yet sad film about the complexities of dealing with grief and how extended periods of mourning may affect the people around them.