‘Bring Her Back’ Review: Was Laura Drugging Andy This Whole Time? The Chilling Detail We All Missed
(L-R) Sora Wong, Billy Barratt Credit: Ingvar Kenne [A24
Bring Her Back twists grief into a terrifying story of manipulation that hides in plain sight until it’s almost too late.
Bring Her Back is a psychological horror thriller that explores grief, family trauma, and the blurred lines between care and control. After the sudden death of their father, 17-year-old Andy and his partially sighted stepsister Piper are sent to live with Laura, an eccentric former counselor with a dark past. Laura fosters a mute boy named Oliver and lives under the shadow of her own daughter Cathy’s accidental drowning. As Andy settles into this new household, he quickly senses that something isn’t right. Laura’s favoritism toward Piper, Oliver’s strange and violent behavior, and Laura’s increasingly controlling attitude toward Andy all raise red flags.
But what really unravels the story is not just the supernatural horror or the occult rituals hinted at throughout the film—it’s the way Laura manipulates reality itself, especially Andy’s perception of it. A single overlooked scene in the film where Laura hurriedly dumps Andy’s workout supplement powder before a social worker’s visit might hold the key to understanding her true intentions. What looks like a panicked act of cleaning could actually be evidence of a far more sinister manipulation.
The film opens with a bleak and unsettling scene: Andy and Piper discover their father dead in the shower. With their lives already unstable, they are thrust into Laura’s care. Laura’s home is a place filled with tension and secrets. Laura lost her own blind daughter Cathy to drowning, and the trauma still haunts her deeply. She also cares for Oliver, a mute boy who behaves erratically and is possessed by a demonic entity named Tari, an aspect that introduces supernatural horror to the narrative.
Andy tries to protect Piper and assert some control in this chaotic environment. He reveals painful memories of their abusive father, who favored Piper while treating Andy cruelly. Laura, meanwhile, behaves with unsettling calm and a hint of menace. She undermines Andy at every turn, sowing seeds of doubt about his mental stability and fitness as a guardian. As Andy begins planning to apply for Piper’s guardianship once he turns eighteen, Laura’s efforts to discredit him become more overt.
In one seemingly small but telling scene, Laura dumps out Andy’s workout supplement powder before the social worker arrives. Initially, this seems like a moment of simple panic: it’s worth asking why she would do this, and what she is hiding?
Many fans speculate Laura might have been tampering with Andy’s supplements for some time. His recurring grogginess, confusion, and sudden, unprovoked bursts of aggression throughout the film could all be symptoms of someone being chemically manipulated without their knowledge.
What if Laura was secretly adding sedatives to Andy’s supplements to keep him subdued and compliant? This would explain his mental fog, his inability to fully defend himself, and his confusion during key moments. Alternatively, she could have been spiking the powder with substances that increased irritability and aggression, making Andy appear volatile and dangerous. This would give Laura an easy way to portray him as unfit and justify controlling Piper’s custody.
The Wall-Punch Scene: A Clue to Andy’s Mental State
Jonah Wren Phillips Credit: Ingvar Kenne [A24]
One of the most shocking moments in the film is when Andy punches a hole in the wall during an emotional outburst. His reaction is not one of triumph or relief, but shock and disbelief. His wide eyes and shaky breathing suggest that he is as surprised as anyone by his own violence.
This scene strongly supports the theory that Andy’s behavior is not entirely his own. If his supplements were drugged, it could cause confusion, mood swings, and aggression that he cannot fully control or understand. His violent outburst might be chemically induced rather than a genuine emotional breakdown.
The “Steroids” Line: A Hidden Hint
Jonah Wren Phillips Credit: Ingvar Kenne [A24]
Earlier in the film, Laura mentions “steroids” in passing while discussing Andy. At the time, this feels like casual dialogue about gym habits or performance supplements. But viewed through this theory, it becomes a chilling hint that Laura is manipulating Andy’s supplements and mental state.
By planting the idea that Andy’s behavior is a side effect of steroid use, Laura sets the stage for others to dismiss his concerns. She redirects suspicion away from herself and onto Andy, creating the illusion that he is the problem. This subtle misdirection is a classic tactic of psychological abusers, who isolate and discredit their victims by blaming external causes.
Laura’s Motivation: Control at Any Cost
Sally Hawkins Credit: Ingvar Kenne [a24]
If Laura has been drugging Andy, what does that say about her true motives? The film makes it clear that Laura’s obsession with control goes beyond just Piper’s guardianship. She has a disturbing attachment to her deceased daughter Cathy, to the point of attempting a dangerous occult ritual to resurrect her through Oliver and Piper. Laura’s acts of deception and manipulation are part of a larger pattern of denial and desperation.
By chemically manipulating Andy, Laura ensures that he cannot interfere with her plans. She discredits him before he can challenge her, protecting her carefully crafted narrative. Dumping the supplement powder before the social worker’s visit could be seen as an attempt to destroy evidence and maintain this illusion. This interpretation transforms Laura from a grieving mother into a calculated antagonist, willing to abuse those around her to get what she wants.
Bring Her Back is not just a supernatural thriller. It is also a deeply unsettling exploration of psychological abuse and control. The idea that someone could potentially drug a supposed loved one to undermine their sanity without detection adds a terrifying layer to the story.
Andy’s confusion and gaslighting become even more heartbreaking if we realize he has been chemically sabotaged all along. It also reframes the entire narrative: the real horror might not be the demonic possession or dark rituals, but the human cruelty hidden in plain sight.
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In a film full of unreliable narrators and blurred realities, that brief scene of Laura dumping out Andy’s supplements might be the most important clue of all. It challenges us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about the characters and their motivations. If Laura was drugging Andy, then Bring Her Back becomes a story about the fragility of trust, the dangers of manipulation, and the lengths to which some will go to rewrite their own version of the truth.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
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