A24 offered a first look at the highly anticipated horror film Bring Her Back. Filmmaker siblings Danny and Michael Philippou have a tall task in following up on their recent paranormal hit, Talk To Me, and from what we were able to see, they have. But what is the film about? What did we see at the event? Furthermore, what did they have to do to get Oscar nominated actor Sally Hawkins to star?
Entering the space we were greeted with a first look at the striking new poster for the film. Once again, A24’s team of designers creates a striking, center-focused design. Danny Philippou at one point marveled at the work, that it was a poster for a film that he made.
The film stars Sally Hawkins as a foster mother who welcomes two youngsters (Billy Barratt and Sora Wong) into her home. While everything seems normal, the empty pool out back and the vacant feel of the expansive home gives hints to the contrary. There is also another youngster (played by Jonah Wren Phillips) lurking about the home in virtual silence and apparent distress. Cozy, huh?
We entered a screening space and Danny and Michael were introduced to the crowd. The two are frantic live wires of infectious energy. Affable, funny, and quick-witted, the two introduced a collection of three clips from the film that offered a tone, a sense of the story, and even a few nasty surprises. We were kindly asked not to share details but I can say that what we saw was funny, moody, and at one point deliciously disturbing.
Some of the light bites served at the event.
During the Q & A session that followed, the Philippou’s spoke about the challenges of a sophomore feature. Playing as if they had tricked A24 into liking their first film, they explained that the heat was on to really deliver. Taking things up a notch, the film gets a bit darker than Talk to Me, but explores the same themes of possession and connecting with the other side. They also confirmed that the film takes place in the same storytelling universe as its predecessor.
Norm with Michael (left) and Danny (right) Philippou
The duo was also surprised at getting Hawkins to play the lead in the film. Sending the script to her on a lark, Hawkins apparently loved it and jumped at the chance to play such a twisted and unpredictable character. To keep everyone on their toes, the Philippou’s would direct Hawkins to suddenly do something out of pocket during a take that was not planned in rehearsal. This would get genuine reactions from Barratt and Wong among others.
It’s also of note that, in casting Wong’s character, who is visually impaired, the Philippou’s were insistent on hiring a visually impaired actor for the part. They admitted that the pool of talent that checked every box was small but that Wong wasn’t only good, she got better and better as the shoot went on.
From the scenes we were able to watch it is clear that Bring Her Back is going to have an impact when it is released this summer. Danny and Michael Philippou have a real sense of tension and how to build to shocking moments that you are never really prepared for. We can’t wait to see the film and watch Hawkins terrorize the screen.
