Movies

‘Stop Saying That’ Bring Her Back’s Directors Talk About Solving Disagreements As Both Brothers And Co-Directors

BBG News

Throughout my profession in the entertainment sector, I’ve rarely come across the infectious energy that the Philippou brothers, Danny and Michael, share as filmmakers. Hailing from Australia and famed for their 2023 hit movie “Talk To Me“, these twin directors radiate an extraordinary enthusiasm for their work, evident in their animated conversations about their upcoming terrifying masterpiece. Being siblings, they are not only incredibly close but also enjoy teasing each other – a dynamic I witnessed firsthand when I unexpectedly found myself witnessing a spontaneous wrestling match between them on a press line at San Diego Comic-Con a few years back.

During recent press events featuring the team from Phillipous, their dynamic has piqued my interest, particularly regarding how they handle creative disagreements. Earlier this month, during the Los Angeles press day for their upcoming horror film, “Bring Her Back,” I took the opportunity to inquire about this very topic. As shown in the video above, I brought up a past instance where they playfully sparred, and they humorously suggested that their physical altercation symbolized their problem-solving approach behind the scenes.

Danny Philippou: Let’s grapple! However, as the weaker twin, I usually come up short.

Michael Philippou: When it comes to being creative, all the final choices are mine.

Get Excited For Bring Her Back!

At an early viewing of A24’s film “Bring Her Back”, we were compelled to step aside due to the passionate response from the audience.

It’s quite likely that if you have a sibling, whether it’s a twin or not, you’ll find an immediate connection with the content I’m about to share.

In a more serious tone, the two filmmakers pointed out that they try to resolve creative differences behind the scenes, communicating through their phones rather than arguing publicly in front of the actors. As Michael Philippou explains, however, many of these discussions actually occur during post-production. He humorously asserts that he usually makes the correct decisions in such situations.

Danny Philippou: We typically resolve our disagreements through text messages, keeping the disputes private. For instance, “Please avoid making such comments in public.” Our dynamic is somewhat like that.
Michael Philippou: A lot of the arguments we have are over minor details during the editing process, such as the volume of a sound effect or choice of music cue. Even if it’s just a few frames in a shot, we might argue about the length or appropriateness of those frames. More often than not, Danny is incorrect in his assessment.

Danny and Michael Philippou might not always agree on every creative aspect when producing their films, but they consistently make outstanding decisions together, which is clearly demonstrated by the high quality of their movies. Their directorial debut, Talk To Me, stands out as one of the most thrilling horror genre debuts in the 21st century, and Bring Her Back, despite its darker tone, is equally impressive.

Billy Barratt and Sora Wong share the lead roles in “Bring Her Back” as Andy and Piper, who are step-siblings. Their lives take a dramatic turn after their father, Stephen Phillips, unexpectedly passes away. Due to Andy being just a few months from being of legal age to become Piper’s guardian, they are temporarily placed in a foster home, where they encounter Laura (Sally Hawkins). Initially, she appears to be a somewhat peculiar woman who is concerned about their well-being, but it soon becomes evident that she has hidden, sinister intentions related to her enigmatic, voluntarily mute foster son Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips).

In my four-and-a-half star TopMob review, I highlight that “Bring Her Back” offers a gripping cinematic journey, not for those with delicate sensibilities – and audiences worldwide can immerse themselves in the unsettling chaos of Danny and Michael Philippou when the A24 film premieres in theaters this coming Friday, May 30.

Read More

2025-05-30 04:07

Previous post Ray Winstone, 68, reveals he has semi-retired and spends most of his time in Sicily ‘to rest in the sun’
Next post Ethereum Whales Flee with 684k Tokens: Is ETH Doomed?