Danny and Michael Philippou‘s sophomore characteristic is one other grief-driven horror that doubles down on the darkness with assist from Sally Hawkins and a proficient younger ensemble.
In Deliver Her Again, Billy Barratt and Sora Wong play Andy and Piper, two siblings who’re despatched to dwell with a seemingly heat foster mom, Laura (Hawkins), after coming dwelling from faculty to find their father’s lifeless physique. Additionally mourning the dying of her personal daughter, Laura begins exhibiting disturbing habits in her remedy of Andy and her different mute foster youngster Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), of which the partially-sighted Piper is blissfully ignorant.
Whereas the Australian director brothers’ 2022 debut Speak to Me proved a youthful horror hit in its personal proper, their followup explores among the identical themes of grief and trauma by way of a a lot darker, extra private narrative that leaves viewers with a way of each dread and hope.
Hawkins is sublimely chilling as a grieving mom with ulterior motives, who manages to indicate her foster youngsters the identical quantity of coronary heart we’ve seen the actress give a CGI Peruvian bear in Paddington, earlier than taking a chilling, abusive flip and gaslighting the youngsters with jaw-dropping, seemingly insignificant schemes that lend to a bigger, extra sinister conclusion.
With such shenanigans that embody peeing right into a measuring cup and pouring it into one youngsters’ mattress whereas he sleeps, and punching one other child within the face whereas she sleeps, you by no means know what Laura’s going to do subsequent. In the meantime, glimpses of an occult ritual and the mysterious locked shed out again will depart viewers questioning her final plan.
Sally Hawkins and Jonah Wren Phillips in ‘Deliver Her Again’
A24 through YouTube
Oscar-nominated Hawkins is supported by a proficient younger group of co-stars. The function of Piper is Wong’s performing debut, a triumphant one as a differently-abled last lady put by way of an emotional wringer all through the movie. Barratt compliments her completely as older brother Andy, a heartbreaking dynamic that may depart viewers in tears. In the meantime, Phillips serves pure horror youngster brilliance as Oliver that would drive even these creepy twins from The Shining to cowl their eyes.
In a single gory scene that’s troublesome to unsee, the ferociously hungry Oliver chews on a kitchen knife. All of it goes downhill from there within the Philippous’ gore fest, with the kid finally resembling a younger Jason Voorhees leaping out of Crystal Lake.
Whereas the movie is a stupendous entry within the style, in addition to a shifting exploration of trauma and grief, a set off warning is perhaps to ensure that some survivors of abuse. One character’s heartbreaking destiny is especially troublesome to observe.
Trying previous the heavy materials, a cycle of generational abuse is damaged and a familial arc is superbly framed by co-writers Danny Philippou and Invoice Hinzman, with the symbolism of a aircraft passing by overhead as souls departing earth.
With Deliver Her Again, the Philippous as soon as once more handle to carry coronary heart to horror, navigating common themes with a singular sense of catharsis.
Producers are Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton by way of Causeway Movies.
Title: Deliver Her Again
Distributor: A24
Launch date: Could 30, 2025
Director: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Screenwriters: Danny Philippou, Invoice Hinzman
Solid: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, Mischa Heywood
Ranking: R
Operating time: 1 hr 39 minutes
