Still showing this week (Tuesday 20:50, Wednesday 17:40 and Thursday 21:00)
Danny and Michael Phillipppu strike again, rather than go more commercial, they instead lean further into the arthouse horror direction than their prior nightmarish thrill ride sensation Talk to Me (2022).
Grief is not a new topic for the Racka Racka duo, but here it is handled in a more nuanced way than their prior film. Both interpret grief as an addictive drug, but this grapples with the moral repercussions of this addiction.
The story follows Andy and his partially blind step sister Piper, whose father has recently passed. They are taken up in the “care” of Laura, who lost her daughter years back. Laura wants to “Bring Her Back”, but has devised a rather demonic way of doing so. Andy sees Laura’s malnourished son Oliver, who appears possessed. Piper is however blind to this blatant abuse, so Laura twists her web to enact her outlandish plan.
Sally Hawkins plays Laura, a very clever casting decision. She plays Mrs Brown in the Paddington movies after all and has such a sweet voice she wouldn’t hurt a fly. It’s that feeling of comfort in her voice the film subverts, as very quickly she becomes this unsettling presence able to put on this kind persona.
It’s a slow burn piece of intrigue, as the depths of the grief and where they take the characters deepen. Laura is still in the denial stage, whereas Andy suffers PTSD- a product of the very different kinds of love lost.
And with Oliver, there’s certainly effective body horror to be found, making for gory scenes but beneath the genre thrills comes this tragic layer of the cycle of abuse and grief to be felt.
The cinematography also feels like a major upgrade, with the limited location providing more creativity with making stunning shots.
A dark horror that doesn’t just use grief as a set-up but as a key part to the narrative. This continues the Phillippou’s streak of harsh and moving horror that sticks.
Harry Denton
Friends of Hyde Park Picture House 