It’s a Lot of Fun to Watch Sally Hawkins Go Evil

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In simple terms, the Philippou brothers specialize in portraying teens making questionable decisions, which are essential for driving horror films forward. For instance, characters in Danny and Michael Philippou’s movies, such as “Talk to Me” (2022) and their latest release, “Bring Her Back,” often make poor choices not due to the plot but because they are immature and impulsive, acting more like children than adults. This perspective on youth comes from their extensive experience as YouTubers, allowing them to keep a close connection with this age group. In “Talk to Me,” high-school students discover an embalmed hand that can possess whoever holds it, but instead of treating it as a sign of the afterlife, they use it as a party trick – a portrayal that surprisingly acknowledges teenage bravado.

In the movie “Bring Her Back,” Andy, who could be considered one of the main characters, lacks the usual swagger typically associated with such roles. Instead, he’s a 17-year-old boy who’s traumatized and lost, standing on the brink of adulthood but still very much a child. The film presents Andy in a strikingly raw manner, reminiscent of Mia from “Talk to Me,” who masked her intense neediness with humor and a smile, keeping her pain hidden within. Andy has taken on the role of protector for his younger stepsister, Piper, shielding her from bullying and hiding their father’s abuse. Following their father’s sudden death, he intends to become her guardian so they can live together once he turns 18 in a few months. However, this plan is complicated by his past which has labeled him as “troubled,” potentially jeopardizing their chances of staying together in foster care. Throughout the movie, there are intriguing but underdeveloped themes about how society tends to view young men as potential threats, overlooking the possibility that they might be victims themselves. Andy’s tumultuous past makes him an easy target for Laura, the foster mother who reluctantly takes them both in.

The movie “Bring Her Back” exhibits a more emotionally intense narrative compared to “Talk to Me“, though it does come with its fair share of complexity. Hawkins‘ portrayal of Laura, a woman devastated by the loss of her daughter, is particularly noteworthy, as she seems to grasp the depth of her grief more than those around her. In her role, Hawkins embodies Laura as a mysterious kindergarten teacher, characterized by her chunky jewelry and obvious favoritism. She lavishes affection on Piper, who shares a visual impairment with her deceased daughter Cathy, while coldly neglecting Andy, who is relegated to a space reminiscent of a storage room.

Laura’s behavior towards the children is unsettling; she encourages Piper with excessive affection, while humiliating and manipulating Andy. One instance of this involves Laura secretly urinating on Andy’s crotch while he’s unconscious, then ridiculing him the next day for wetting himself during the night. In his vulnerable state, Andy is unable to resist her attempts to portray him as a threat.

Hawkins demonstrates exceptional acting skills in this role, skillfully using her talents to depict Laura as a former counselor who has mastered the art of manipulating children for her own purposes. It’s fascinating to observe how she transforms her immense talent into an embodiment of evil, playing a character who understands children so deeply that she can effectively control them in pursuit of her sinister agenda.

The primary objectives of the scheme become apparent right from the start, but the particulars gradually unfold at a chilling pace, much like the gradual revelation of details such as the circle drawn around Laura’s property or the eerie ritual in another country captured on VHS, or the unsettling behavior of Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), who seems determined to eat the cat. Hawkins delivers a powerful and captivating performance that overshadows her younger co-stars, particularly Wong, whose character is unfortunately given a puzzlingly disjointed narrative. Yet, Phillips holds his own admirably. With his large eyes and constant scowl, he plays a significant role in building the film’s suspense slowly but surely, with more and more prosthetics added as Bring Her Back progresses towards its grim ending. The movie’s most effective shocking scene cleverly exploits the fact that Oliver is a child who should be safeguarded, yet he is terrifying. This scene involves another questionable decision from Andy, though it’s not the kind you’d typically find in a horror movie. It represents the dilemma of a teenager who hesitates to acknowledge that the adult responsible for his care sees him as an obstacle – and it’s difficult to fault him for that.

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2025-05-30 18:55