A24 has released their latest terrifying horror movie, Bring Her Back, a traumatic and disturbing movie about grief and the second feature film from the Philippou brothers, who also gave us Talk to Me.
Knowing that this is a horror movie and one distributed by A24, most parents and prospective audience-goers probably have a fair idea of what to expect. A24 horror films are rarely for the faint of heart and this one is no exception. If you couldn't handle Talk to Me, then I recommend staying far away from Bring Her Back because this film is even more brutal and it pulls no punches.
Bring Her Back is an excellent and poignant film featuring riveting performances, particularly from Sally Hawkins who plays foster mom Laura, but it's also bleak and full of graphic content.
Why is Bring Her Back rated R?
Sexuality: This is not a sexual film by any means, there isn't any romance or depiction of sex on-screen, but you do see a few characters in the nude. Notably, there is a character who dies at the beginning of the film and the camera lingers on his body. In short, there is some full-frontal male nudity.
Gore: The movie's entire plot hinges on the character of Laura and her unresolved grief for her late daughter, Cathy. The movie's title is because Laura is desperate to do whatever it takes to bring Cathy back to life, even if that means performing a dark occult ritual. Her newest foster kids, Adam and Piper, become involved in her warped plans, leading to a lot of horrific moments.
Bring Her Back has quite a bit of body horror, with characters getting hit, beaten, scratched, bitten, and more. Some of the content isn't even graphic but it is incredibly disturbing. Two characters are hit with a car, several characters are shown drowning, some cannibalism is depicted, and there are a few close-up shots of skin being ripped from someone's body. Remember that hangnail scene in Black Swan? Yeah, like that, but even more intense.
Other content: As far as language, drinking, and drugs go, Bring Her Back is relatively tame. There are a couple of f-bombs and strong use of language, as well as a scene where Laura, Piper, and Peter get drunk together.
Animal cruelty: Those with a sensitivity to animal deaths and cruelty might want to be cautious about this movie because there is a cat who gets put in peril a few times, though nothing overly bad or graphic happens to it. The cat's fate is ultimately left ambiguous. Laura owns a stuffed dead dog.
Overall, this is not the type of movie you're going to want to watch for a feel-good family movie night, but if you enjoy intense horror films and have seen other A24 flicks like Talk to Me or Hereditary, then Bring Her Back is probably going to be right up your alley.