Bring Her Back should have been a homerun for me. After trashing A24’s earlier films so badly they actually contacted me (yes, that really happened), recent gems like The Iron Claw and X had completely won me over. When I heard the Philippou brothers – who delivered the brilliant Talk to Me – were back with another A24 horror film, I was genuinely excited.

Unfortunately, this one nearly sent me back to A24 purgatory. My ten-year-old granddaughter, who’s sat through every horror movie with me without flinching, had to nudge me awake twice. That should tell you everything.

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While Sally Hawkins delivers a committed performance in her first horror role, and the film reportedly contains some genuinely disturbing moments that other critics are raving about, the pacing drags considerably compared to Talk to Me‘s tight 94-minute runtime. The grief-driven storyline lacks the immediate hook that made their debut so compelling.

Here’s my main takeaway: if you’re daring enough to see this one, plan on watching it twice. Maybe there are layers I missed in my half-conscious state, but right now it feels like a significant step backward from directors who had me believing A24 could do no wrong.

Grade: C-

About The Peetimes: I found 2 moments that were easy to keep up with. The first Peetime has a poignant conversation afterwards, so be mindful of your time limit.

There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Bring Her Back.

Plot
A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.