Movies

The Babadook Directors’ Next Horror Movie

BBG News

A decade has passed since the Philippou siblings contributed to the making of “The Babadook”. Now, these Australian artists are poised to unveil their latest horror production, “Bring Her Back”, in cinemas on May 30, 2025. With great anticipation following their directorial debut, “Talk To Me”, fans of intense horror can look forward to the exceptional talent that the Philippou brothers possess. Given the lasting impact and sheer terror of Jennifer Kent’s “The Babadook”, it’s clear that this film lived up to its hype.

Instead of being an ordinary scary movie, the film The Babadook transcended to a genuinely terrifying journey with deep emotional depth due to its powerful metaphor about the intense pressures of motherhood. Reflecting on how the Philipous made The Babadook about a decade ago, let’s hope they’ve drawn upon their experiences from Kent and Talk to Me to create another Australian horror masterpiece, Bring Her Back.

Who Are Danny & Michael Philippou?

Danny and Michael Philippou, two well-known Australian entertainers specializing in stunts, have been primarily concentrating on filmmaking lately. Their journey began in 2013 when they established RackaRacka, a YouTube channel that swiftly amassed nearly seven million subscribers. They gained popularity through their short horror-comedy videos and humorous skits, eventually leading them to move to Los Angeles in 2019. Despite residing in the United States, they continue to produce films in Australia as well.

In 2023, Danny and Michael unveiled the spellbinding supernatural horror film titled “Talk to Me,” which garnered widespread acclaim. The plot revolves around a group of teenagers participating in a party game involving a preserved hand from an embalmed corpse, which enables those who touch it to converse with deceased relatives. Although the films “Talk to Me” and “The Babadook” don’t share the same illustrious distributor, A24, numerous viewers regard “The Babadook” as a more outstanding, terrifying, and refined horror production.

Given that Danny and Michael were involved in “The Babadook” alongside Jennifer Kent, it’s promising that “Bring Her Back” could provide chilling horror reminiscent of one of Australia’s most terrifying horror films. With an impressive 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 73 Metascore, it seems like “Bring Her Back” is shaping up to be quite the scary ride.

The movie titled “Bring Her Back” revolves around two teenage siblings uncovering a chilling mystery in their recently adopted home. In the film, Sally Hawkins portrays their foster mother with an unsettling finesse that has garnered high praise. Despite its pace being more leisurely compared to “Talk to Me”, the intense bursts of gruesome violence are expected to satisfy even the most avid horror enthusiasts. However, whether it reaches the heights of “The Babadook’s” greatness remains to be seen with time.

‘The Babadook’ Remains One of the Best Modern Horror Movies

In 2025, The Babadook continues to be hailed as one of the most terrifying Australian horror films ever made, boasting a 98% RT rating and an 86 Metascore. Originally released in 2014, this film revolves around Amelia Vanek (Essie Davis), a mother struggling with the intense stress and emotional toll of sleepless parenting and the lingering trauma of past sorrow.

In this rephrased version: Amelia makes every effort to safeguard her child, Samuel (played by Noah Wiseman), from a terrifying entity known as The Babadook, which frequently haunts him in the movie. As a horror film critic with more than a decade of experience, I was genuinely frightened during several scenes, mostly due to the growing tension and sudden, eerie sound effects. The filmmakers masterfully portrayed the unsettling imagery and twisted take on childhood bedtime anxieties.

Beyond doubt, having a sturdy constitution and viewing the movie long after its premiere—assuming it couldn’t possibly meet expectations stirred by hype—The Babadook surpassed its acclaimed status. It stands as an exceptional, indelible horror encounter that may well remain unmatched in horror filmmaking history, regardless of whether the director is Australian or not.

Since its release, The Babadook has been placed on a level of distinction alongside the most frightening films produced by A24, including The Witch and Hereditary. Although Talk to Me doesn’t quite reach such terrifying depths, the work done by Danny and Michael significantly contributed to making The Babadook an exceptional horror film, a title it holds to this day. Their experiences will continue to guide them as they hone their directorial skills moving forward.

How Danny & Michael Philippou Contributed to ‘The Babadook’

As they debuted their YouTube channel, Danny and Michael Philippou simultaneously served as team members on the set of “The Babadook”. Michael took on the role of a production assistant, while Danny handled lighting duties. In interviews with Entertainment Weekly, the brothers shared their insights on the enriching collaboration with Jennifer Kent and how their experiences contributed to their filmmaking styles, stating:

“When we first started our YouTube channel and were working on The Babadook as crew members, we had the privilege of collaborating with Jennifer Kent. This experience greatly impacted our approach to filmmaking, and we’ve continued to apply the lessons learned in our future projects.

As a film enthusiast, I couldn’t resist lending my skills for no charge on various projects. One of the producers eventually promised payment for my next assignment, which turned out to be “The Babadook“. This was the moment I witnessed a director’s genuine passion for her craft. Jen took great care in every frame she captured. She wasn’t merely there for financial gain; instead, she was driven by an artistic vision that deeply resonated with me. Her dedication to creating art left a lasting impression on me.

Echoing a similar sentiment to Total Film, Michael stated:

Kent was determined to create a top-notch movie, and every aspect held immense significance for her. I feel the same way, and I want our project to embody that same passion and dedication.

2015 saw Danny and Michael expressing their immense satisfaction on Instagram about being part of an astonishing horror film production. Prior to unveiling their first full-length project, they hinted at its release. The directors lauded Kent’s skill in rooting profound psychological emotions within a supernatural horror genre, using fear, sorrow, melancholy, and sleeplessness as chilling representations of loss and PTSD.

In the case of both siblings, they attribute the foundation of their creative integrity and steadfast vision in filmmaking, which was influenced by Kent, for the production of “Talk to Me”. After their successful collaboration on “Bring Her Back”, Danny and Michael are planning to produce “Talk to Me 2”.

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2025-06-01 22:34

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