Australia, a land often synonymous with kangaroos and ’80s rock band Men at Work, is now gaining a reputation for something far more sinister: redefining modern horror cinema. At the center of this shift are twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, the buoyant creators behind some of the most disturbing and unforgettable scenes in recent memory. Their work is a far cry from the sunny stereotypes—think Midsommar reimagined with the psychological intensity of Alice in Wonderland filtered through a much darker lens.
Following their breakout success at the Sundance Film Festival with Talk to Me—a supernatural teen movie scooped up by A24 for a high-seven figure deal—the Philippous have quickly established themselves as rising auteurs in the film industry. That film went on to gross over $48 million in the U.S. and nearly $92 million globally, a testament to the duo’s grip on both horror fans and mainstream audiences.
Their latest feature, Bring Her Back, promises to continue that momentum. Premiering this Friday, the film dives into darker waters with a tale of familial love, grief, and psychological terror. At the story’s heart are two foster siblings: Piper, a visually impaired girl portrayed with haunting nuance by newcomer Sora Wong, and her protective older brother Andy (Billy Barratt). After the tragic loss of their parents, Andy hopes to care for Piper, but bureaucracy stands in the way. The pair is placed under the guardianship of Laura, an enigmatic woman played by two-time Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins.
Laura’s home, already housing a young boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), becomes the film’s central locus of dread. Oliver exhibits self-destructive behavior, and soon, inexplicable events begin to unfold—especially around the ominous presence of a backyard pool. What lies beneath the surface of this seemingly benign domestic setting? The answers are as chilling as they are unexpected, making Bring Her Back a must-see for fans of the psychological thriller subgenre.
The Philippous cite the 1967 Audrey Hepburn suspense classic Wait Until Dark as a key inspiration. In it, Hepburn’s character, a blind woman, fends off violent intruders in her apartment—a theme echoed in Piper’s vulnerability and strength.
As horror continues to dominate the box office—with recent hits like Sinners ($258.8M) and Final Destination: Bloodlines ($94.1M and counting)—Bring Her Back could be the next genre-defining phenomenon. When horror is this good, audiences keep returning for more, and the Philippous are poised to become the new faces of fear in cinema.
