Bring Her Back (2025)

Bring Her Back is a slow-burning elevated horror that leans into grief, gore, and occult horror more than traditional jump scares.

Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, the duo behind Talk to Me, the film feels more confident this time around. The pacing is tight, the tone never wavers, and there isn’t a single wasted scene. It’s got that A24 signature of letting dread simmer just under the surface while slowly turning up the volume. Brutal when it needs to be, but never flashy for the sake of it.

Billy Barratt takes the lead and does a solid job balancing emotion and shock. He plays it straight and raw, and while a few moments feel a bit much, it fits the role. He sells the trauma and anchors the early part of the story well.

Sally Hawkins brings a quiet intensity as the grieving mother. She’s best known for The Shape of Water, and here she uses that same subtle expression work to say more than any dialogue could. Her screen time is limited, but she leaves a lasting mark.

Jonah Wren Philips has the most demanding role as the possessed boy, and he handles it with surprising depth. His switches between fear, blankness, and full-on rage are convincing and eerie. It’s a tough performance, but he pulls it off and keeps you on edge every time he’s in frame.

Sora Wong plays the blind final girl and might be the real standout. Her performance is layered and restrained. She never leans into the blindness as a gimmick. Instead, she uses it to heighten the tension and showcase her character’s resilience. She absolutely owns the climax.

Bleak, brutal, and beautifully made. Result: B

Comments

Psycho Killer (2026)

Psycho Killer (2026) is a religious-tinged detective thriller that leans far more into procedural tension than outright horror. Directed by Gavin Polone , who is better known as a producer than a filmmaker, the movie benefits heavily from its screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker , the writer behind Se7en . His fingerprints are all over this. The writing is sharp, layered with foreshadowing that only fully clicks at the end, and structured in a way that constantly feels like it is building toward something inevitable. The gorgeous Georgina Campbell plays the detective tracking down the titular killer, and she carries the film with confidence. You'll remember her from Barbarian and recently Cold Storage. The script gives her plenty of emotional range to explore, from controlled professionalism to visible cracks under pressure. She handles the lore-heavy exposition well and grounds what could have been overwhelming backstory. It is another strong showing for her and proof she c...

Cold Storage (2026)

Cold Storage (2026) is a sci fi horror thriller that surprised me in a good way. The writing is solid enough that it actually calmed some of my worries about Disclosure Day coming later this year since the same writer is involved. The story holds together and stays engaging, even when the visuals do not. The CG is laughably bad at times, but the acting/chemistry keeps the movie watchable. Jonny Campbell directs, with the screenplay by David Koepp , known for Jurassic Park and Spider-Man . His writing here is tighter than expected, which is why it gives me more confidence about Disclosure Day. The direction is straightforward and lets the script do most of the work, even if the effects budget clearly limits what can be shown on screen. He needs a redemption after Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Joe Keery , known for Stranger Things and Free Guy , is the main reason I showed up. He proves he can handle a leading role after Stranger Things and carries the film with a relax...

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog