When Talk to Me hit theaters in July 2022, it became an instant summer horror sensation—a chilling film audiences couldn’t resist. Directed by sibling filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, who cut their teeth on YouTube, the movie followed a group of Australian teens summoning spirits through a mummified hand. With its sharp scares, tight runtime, and fresh take on demonic possession as a social media trend, it was a wild, terrifying ride. Made for just over $4 million, it raked in $92 million—no surprise, given how gripping it was.

Now comes their follow-up, Bring Her Back, with a similar-sounding title but a far darker, more somber tone. This time, the story follows two orphaned Australian teens taken in by a grieving foster mother, Laura (Sally Hawkins), who is mourning the loss of her young daughter. But Laura has a twisted plan—she’s determined to bring her dead child back to life.

Will Bring Her Back pull in the same box office numbers? Maybe not—it lacks the frenetic energy of Talk to Me—but it’s deeper, more haunting, and lingers long after the credits roll.

And then there’s Sally Hawkins. After seeing stars like Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, and Florence Pugh dive into horror, it shouldn’t be shocking—but casting the warm, lovable Paddington actress as a suburban psychopath is a stroke of genius. Hawkins’ Laura is a small, seemingly gentle woman who quickly turns sinister, manipulating the siblings, Piper and Andy. Piper (played by visually impaired actress Sora Wong) is fiercely independent, refusing to use her mobility cane, and falls under Laura’s eerie charm. Her brother Andy (a standout Billy Barratt) is more wary but too traumatized to act, his growing suspicion ratcheting up the tension. Then there’s Laura’s silent, shirtless “son,” Ollie (Jonah Wren Phillips), who lurks like a feral, half-human creature.

What exactly is happening in Bring Her Back? The Philippous keep things ambiguous, prioritizing mood over exposition—which might frustrate some viewers. But the dread is palpable. Laura’s obsession with occult rituals hints at something horrific, and Ollie’s unnatural behavior—his unsettling eyes, grotesquely swollen stomach, and even chewing on a knife blade—makes it clear he’s no ordinary child.

Is there anything better than summer horror? The season ahead is packed with Dangerous Animals, 28 Years Later, M3GAN 2.0, and Weapons—but Bring Her Back deserves a spot on your list. It’s a strong, unsettling start to a summer of scares.