Intriguing, wince-worthy, and fearless.

After the passing of their father (Stephen Phillips), Andy (Billy Barrat) isn’t quite old enough to seek guardianship of his stepsister Piper (Sora Wong). Social worker Wendy (Sally-Anne Upton) has “the perfect foster mom” lined up, but Andy convinces Piper to agree the two of them should remain together. Their foster home is deep in the woods, a two-story split-level with a fenced in backyard… and a curious white mark across the front of the property like a goal line. Inside they find Laura (Sally Hawkins), who is immediately smitten with Piper — and instantly distant with Andy. Their foster mom confesses Piper reminds her of a recently deceased daughter (Mischa Haywood), but it was quite a surprise to find Laura’s unmentioned other child Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) standing quiet and by himself at the bottom of an empty pool. While Andy feels suspicious toward Laura, he convinces himself it’s just his imagination… but how much danger would they all be in if it isn’t?

The “RackaRacka” twins Danny and Michael Philippou return after directing their surprise freshman hit Talk To Me for A24. With immediate whispers of a sequel already titled Talk 2 Me, there was another story they already had in mind, also co-written by Bill Hinzman. There’s a unique pedigree in this casting: Hawkins from The Shape of Water, Barrat from “Invasion,” and Phillips from “Sweet Tooth.” It’s clear the filmmakers enjoy dabbling in fear, anxiety, and dread, this time catalyzed by upending family and placing blind trust in strangers, made worse as children told to trust in adults they do not know. There’s another layer of something going on beneath the surface of course, but unlike their previous film, it’s less in your face this time, crawling under the floorboards and lurking just out of sight. What horrors have the twins unleashed upon the world this time?

Stories that flirt with the supernatural, especially with the best of intentions, make for interesting character studies. Mike Flanagan’s “Midnight Mass,” for example, not only paves his road to hell with good intentions but puts up strip malls and truck stops. In Bring Her Back, the core concept is seeded from the beginning but begins unfocused, building anxiety by first gaslighting the characters and then granting audiences an insider look. By the time the diabolical plan is revealed to all, viewers will feel as trapped as the characters, dreading what’s coming but helpless to stop it… never mind if it’s even possible. The suspension of disbelief regarding many of the VFX, especially those revolving around Oliver, are disturbingly and pain-inducingly realistic, and it isn’t clear what’s practical, enhanced, or both. Similar to how last year’s Longlegs seeped into your soul, the moments that feel the most like watching a true-crime documentary no one was ever supposed to see will be haunting viewers for a while afterward.

Comparing these two films (because everyone will), Talk To Me plays better throughout by seeding the supernatural element in from the very beginning; little payoffs are offered like treats for paying close attention, but it’s also a subtle manipulation. Bring Her Back asks you to trust that everything will come together even while taking its time, and the ending may not fully make sense until it can digest for a bit. This gives the denouement additional weight as the aftermath sinks in, not unlike listening to the day-after radio reports over the credits for The Lords of Salem. It is amazingly affecting on a primal level, no easy feat with fickle horror audiences in today’s day and age.

Earlier this year, Sinners felt uplifting in its message even while the bodies hit the floor, balancing a spirit of adventure with the drama of impending doom begging for repeat viewings to experience it all again. In contrast, Bring Her Back makes one question if they want to go through that again, brushing up against something mortal that cuts very near the bone; it feels frighteningly true, and that’s about as a high a complement as one can give to horror.

Bring Her Back is rated R for strong disturbing bloody violent content, some grisly images, graphic nudity, underage drinking, language, and an affinity for cantaloupe.

Four skull recommendation out of four