Ari Aster‘s impact on modern A24 horror films has long been acknowledged, especially with the success of “Hereditary,” but now, Danny and Michael Philippou’s “Bring Her Back” has challenged the established norm. Currently showing in theaters, this film offers a new lens on grief and supernatural themes, setting a compelling benchmark for the genre and potentially shifting how audiences measure excellence within A24 horror.
Comparing Themes of Grief and the Supernatural in “Bring Her Back” and “Hereditary”
“Bring Her Back” is the second feature by Danny and Michael Philippou following their acclaimed “Talk To Me,” and it dives deep into how people process staggering loss. Like Aster’s “Hereditary,” it presents the intersection of human sorrow and otherworldly forces, yet it stands out for its emotional resonance and storytelling craft. While “Hereditary” tracked a family’s unravelling after losing a child—anchored by a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score and strong critical acclaim—“Bring Her Back” centers on Laura, a mourning mother who invites Piper and Andy, two recently orphaned children, into her life.
Both films steadily immerse viewers in a shadowy world where characters grapple with unexplained, ominous phenomena, and both mothers—Laura in “Bring Her Back” and Annie in “Hereditary,” played by Sally Hawkins and Toni Collette respectively—become engulfed by their grief. Each film builds tragedy from the ways sorrow contorts those left behind, guiding them toward darkness. However, “Bring Her Back” ends on a note tinged with bittersweet humanity, in contrast to the relentless despair of “Hereditary.” The storytelling, especially through performance, sets the former apart as it grants actors more dimensional material.
The most significant divide lies in the screenplay’s approach to character. The script for “Bring Her Back” roots itself firmly in authentic interactions and personal connection, which makes the narrative more engrossing than the consistently bleak tone of “Hereditary.” While “Hereditary” succeeds visually and with gripping performances, critics have noted its lack of warmth and empathy—qualities that “Bring Her Back” supplies in abundance. This difference is crucial to how audiences receive each film’s emotional weight.
Stark Contrasts in Main Performances: Sally Hawkins’ Laura Versus Toni Collette’s Annie
At the heart of both films are stunning portrayals by their leads, yet their differences are telling. Toni Collette’s Annie is a portrayal marked by rawness, anger, and devastation. Her performance in “Hereditary” is a masterclass in inhabiting agony, as Annie becomes consumed by loss and spirals toward destructive anger. Annie’s character, though compelling, often feels defined entirely by her pain.
On the other hand, Sally Hawkins brings Laura in “Bring Her Back” to life with a nuanced and layered humanity. Laura is deeply wounded by her daughter’s accidental death, and while she is at times manipulative, Hawkins finds subtle, genuine glimpses of vulnerability and doubt in her. Laura’s willingness to exploit or care for those around her is marked with authentic emotion, providing a more dynamic and believable figure than Annie, whose one-note suffering dominates every scene.
The way each character’s journey concludes further underscores their differences. Annie’s ultimate transformation in “Hereditary” renders her possessed and monstrous, her agency replaced by supernatural intent as she becomes a vessel for the demon king Paimon. The sequence, intense as it is, leans heavily into horror spectacle. Meanwhile, Laura’s descent in “Bring Her Back” remains tragically rooted in her humanness: as she faces her horrific actions, she pleads with her victims and confronts her own capacity for evil, creating a moment of horror that is both terrifying and heartbreakingly real.
“Bring Her Back” Delivers Subtler, More Powerful Supernatural Horror
Both films deliberately withhold exhaustive explanations of their supernatural elements, igniting a slow-burning sense of dread. “Hereditary” ultimately unveils its horror through an eccentric, almost surreal climax involving cult activity and possession, pushing the narrative toward the bizarre and distancing itself from the core tragedy of the characters.
By contrast, “Bring Her Back” maintains its focus on the character of Ollie as the center of its supernatural dread. Laura’s actions are never fully attributed to external demonic forces; instead, her choices are portrayed as chillingly her own, giving the film a grounded horror that’s emotionally effective. The film’s standout sequence arrives at the climax, where Laura, tearfully, informs Piper of her intent in a resurrection ritual—a harrowing act that resonates with both fear and grief. This moment, stripped down and brutal, lands with more authentic intensity than any of “Hereditary’s” supernatural spectacles.
Reevaluating the Standard: Why “Bring Her Back” Surpasses “Hereditary”
Upon the initial release of “Hereditary,” viewers and critics were quick to hail it as a genre-defining masterpiece, citing Ari Aster’s directorial style and the cast’s committed performances. Yet, for many, the coldness of “Hereditary’s” characters and their overwhelming trauma became barriers to emotional engagement. While the film’s intention may have been to showcase unraveling and pain, some found the lack of character development and humanity a significant flaw—with Annie and her family feeling disconnected even before tragedy strikes.
Conversely, “Bring Her Back” succeeds by allowing its core characters—Andy, Piper, and Laura—to display nuance, depth, and real growth. Their grief is palpable but never one-dimensional; each is granted moments of levity, complexity, and even warmth. Ollie’s eerie presence deepens the unease, yet the film doesn’t reduce Laura’s capacity for darkness to simple villainy or to the machinations of an external force.
This focus on multidimensional characters, alongside more visceral scares and devastating emotional turns, is what sets “Bring Her Back” above “Hereditary” for many. Danny and Michael Philippou have used the space of A24 horror to craft a film that is not only terrifying but deeply affecting. By doing so, they highlight another way to approach supernatural horror, one that leans into empathy and authentic storytelling.
Notable Cast and Characters
“Bring Her Back” features Sally Hawkins in the lead role of Laura, whose grief and resilience shape the entire narrative. The supporting cast includes Billy Barratt as Andy and Mischa Heywood as Cathy, each contributing emotional depth and authenticity to the movie’s portrayal of loss and coping. Jonah Wren Phillips plays Ollie, whose mysterious and unsettling presence adds an additional layer of suspense to the story. These performances are central to the film’s immersive impact and are frequently cited by both critics and audiences as reasons for the film’s critical acclaim.
A Changing Benchmark for Modern A24 Horror
The arrival of “Bring Her Back” signals a notable shift in expectations for A24 horror films. While Ari Aster’s “Hereditary” once defined the gold standard, the Philippou brothers’ latest feature challenges viewers and critics to consider not just visual and performative excellence, but also the importance of character depth and relatable, human storytelling within the horror genre. As “Bring Her Back” continues to generate discussion and acclaim, it may encourage future filmmakers to emphasize emotional authenticity alongside supernatural terror, reshaping what audiences seek in modern genre cinema.
