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Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Bring Her Back boasts one of the most horrifically disturbing scenes I've ever s
Disturbing new film Bring Her Back contains one of the most intensely grotesque and terrifying scenes I've ever seen – one that made me physically recoil – but the movie is more than just harrowing thrills. This A24 supernatural horror has had UK fans patiently waiting nearly two months longer than our US and Australian counterparts to witness its grisliness, which reportedly left some fainting in cinemas. Not only are there several truly hideous scenes in the film, built up to by its looming sense of foreboding, but it leaps straight in with grainy footage from a cult showing people being tortured and hanged. I've now warned you what kind of film it's going to be from the very beginning, but this second feature from Australian sibling filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou (Talk to Me) goes beyond simply wince-inducing. It's also a poignant tale about the devastation of grief and boasts two-time Oscar-nominee Sally Hawkins as its stunningly effective secret weapon. Not that anyone would expect anything less than excellence from Hawkins at this stage, but she triumphs here as an exquisitely off-balance and creepy presence, elevating the distressing – if sometimes slightly thin – material. Bring Her Back opens with the trauma of step-siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) finding their father dead in the shower, which leads them to be placed in the care of eccentric former counsellor Laura (Hawkins). To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Laura is cheerful to an almost manic degree, welcoming the pair into her cluttered home up in the hills, where she's also fostering a young mute boy, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). Immediately smitten with Piper, who reminds her of her late daughter Cathy (Mischa Heywood) – who was blind and tragically drowned in the home's swimming pool – Laura is surprisingly brusque with the troubled Oliver as well as Andy, who she immediately begins to undermine with unnerving behaviour. This is all managed with icky cheeriness from Hawkins as Laura, who expertly masks her character's subtly nefarious motives with Laura's kooky disposition and professional experience handling displaced kids. But she's not the scariest presence in the film: that honour belongs to Phillips' deeply troubled Oliver, who eats flies, bangs on windows – and much worse. It's him at the centre of Bring Her Back's most stomach-churning scenes, including the worst, which may well have you gagging or at least groaning in disgust and fright as the audience in my screening did. I won't spoil the exact nature of what it entails, but suffice it to say it's good old-fashioned body horror and a classic fear realised that many have nightmares about – and that's without the genuinely distressing cracking and splintering sound effects that accompany the blood onscreen. I'll never forget it. The movie's sound design by Emma Bortignon is particularly impressive, thunderous in parts and quietly foreboding in others, constantly ratcheting up the unease. It also pairs well with Cornel Wilczek's score – sometimes jangling and disorienting – to emphasise the audio overwhelm someone with compromised vision like Piper can experience. More Trending Bring Her Back's performances all around are knock-out, from Hawkins and Phillips providing the fear factor to Barratt and newcomer Wong giving the film its heart. But although it pushes further into depraved places than I expected and enjoys a fair amount of impact from that alone, the beats of the story can be a little slow and overly simplified; this goes as far as the film's title itself. As can be the case with horror movies, the revelations end up paling a little in comparison with the thrills of the journey to get there. You can guess what's behind the locked door of the shed, and the basis of the film's set-up is a little rushed and unsubstantiated, which left me feeling slightly deflated. Despite this, Bring Her Back's rawness – in more ways than one – is something seared into my memory, thanks to its twisted and extreme horror and powerful performances. Bring Her Back is in UK cinemas from Saturday, July 26. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Legendary sci-fi film dubbed 'one of the best ever made' streaming for free MORE: Acclaimed thriller hailed as a 'masterpiece' now available to stream MORE: I Know What You Did Last Summer star left sobbing over original actor's 'iconic' return
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Reena Virk's killer has day parole revoked over positive drug tests, 'negative' behaviour
Canada's parole board has revoked day parole for the woman who killed 14-year-old B.C. teen Reena Virk, following a series of positive drug tests and behaviours the board said represent "an undue risk to society." According to parole documents, Kerry Sim — who was known as Kelly Ellard in 1997 when she killed Virk — first saw her limited release into the community suspended last January when she tested positive for methamphetamine following months of "negative and non-compliant" behaviour. Although she denied using drugs — blaming prescribed medication for what she claimed were false positives — Sim again tested positive for non-prescribed medication in prison in April and later admitted that she "had taken another offender's medication." In a decision issued last month, the Parole Board of Canada told Sim "you present with an anti-social or delinquent value system, that you have an unwillingness to accept responsibility for your own actions and your rebelliousness puts you at a high risk for future delinquent behaviour." "Your behaviour in the community prior to your suspension is inconsistent with what is minimally required or expected on an earned release," the decision says. "You disregarded minimum supervision expectations and when this was addressed with you, you became hostile, argumentative, antagonizing, lacked accountability and deflected blame." 'Antagonizing, threatening and insulting' Sim is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder in the 1997 killing. The decision describes a 42-year-old struggling with children, single-parenting, substance abuse — and the consequences of her actions. The impact of Virk's murder continues to reverberate years after Sim and Warren Glowatski followed the teenager across the Craigflower Bridge and dragged her into Victoria's Gorge waterway following a savage beating by a swarm of teens Virk thought were friends. The case has inspired books, plays, podcast episodes and a recent Hulu true-crime TV series — starring Oscar-nominee Lily Gladstone — based on the 2005 non-fiction book of the same name, Under the Bridge. Sim — who has had a troubled history before the parole board — has long stood in stark contrast to Glowatski, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 but sought forgiveness from Virk's parents, meeting with them to express his remorse. Sim stood trial three times for the murder before the Supreme Court of Canada finally upheld her conviction in 2009. She was released on day parole in 2018, but has been hauled back in front of the parole board multiple times for domestic violence and positive urine tests. According to the parole documents, Sim was arrested in 2021 because of a deterioration in behaviour. She returned to a community residential facility in the Lower Mainland in 2023, but was in and out of trouble. Staff described her behaviour as "antagonizing, threatening and insulting." 'An undue risk to society' According to the parole board, Sim was ultimately apprehended at the facility following the positive drug test last January, but would not leave her room, making "vague suicidal comments" and "screaming and kicking" before she was taken into custody. Sim — who is the mother of two young children — has "struggled emotionally" due to her child's behavioural issues, being a single parent and "managing legal custody issues" with her ex-partner. WATCH | Reporter Jason Proctor recounts what it was like to cover the high-profile murder case in 1997: The parole decision says she also voiced safety concerns following the release of the television mini-series. At the time of the series release, the board noted that Sim had "demonstrated some remorse and victim empathy after a discussion about an upcoming television series based on your crimes." "You said the series is disrespectful to the victim and her family, and that the index offence was so horrendous that it would re-victimize the victim's family," the board noted in a previous decision. The parole board noted that Sim has been working as a cleaner since returning to jail and has "demonstrated positive behaviour" but concluded the risk of releasing her was too great. "Despite the time you have had for self-reflection since returning to custody, the board finds you continue to engage in behaviours and thinking that contributed to your suspension," the decision concludes. "You will, by re-offending before the expiration of your sentence, present an undue risk to society."
Business Insider
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
'Superman' is silly and heartfelt — and shows the new DC Universe can easily rival Marvel
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Superman." The new " Superman" features three cameos that may surprise fans —including one that sets up the next movie in the rebooted DC Universe. The film starts three years into Superman (David Corenswet) being a superhero in Metropolis, but references his origin story. Named Kal-El when his Kryptonian parents sent him in a spaceship to Earth, he is discovered by the Kansas farmers Jonathan (Pruitt Taylor Vance) and Martha Kent (Neva Howell). They name him Clark Kent, and he eventually becomes Superman. The first major cameo in "Superman" ties into this origin story. Bradley Cooper plays Jor-El, Superman's father Thankfully, the 2025 movie does not retread the familiar story of the planet Krypton being destroyed. But it does reveal that Superman rewatches a damaged recording of his parents in his Arctic base, called the Fortress of Solitude, to soothe him after stressful battles. In the footage, Oscar-nominee Bradley Cooper plays Jor-El, Superman's father, alongside the "Westworld" actor Angela Sarafyan as Lara Lor-Van, the hero's mother. The pair speak in their native Kryptonian language, but the translation says that they love their son and that he's meant to be the best of them. The billionaire villain, Lex Luthor, (Nicholas Hoult) repairs the recording and discovers that the second half of the message suggests that Superman's parents actually wanted their son to conquer Earth. Luthor uses this information to turn the public against Superman. John Cena reprises his role as Peacemaker The next cameo sees John Cena briefly return to play Christopher Smith, also known as the violent vigilante Peacemaker, on a TV talk show. During Cena's short appearance, he's discussing the controversy surrounding Superman and the Kryptonian recording while Kent is at home in his apartment with his girlfriend, Lois Lane. It's a fun cameo, as Peacemaker criticizes Superman with some childish insults. Cena's antihero will return in "Peacemaker" season two in August 2025. 'House of the Dragon' star Milly Alcock makes her debut as Supergirl The third and final cameo of the film sees Milly Alcock crash (literally) onto the screen as Kara Zor-El, also known as Superman's cousin, Supergirl. Yes, that's right, Kent isn't the only surviving Kryptonian in the galaxy. Supergirl has numerous origin stories in the comics, but the common thread is that she's sent to Earth to protect her younger cousin, only to find that he's grown up in the time it took her to get to Earth. In a short scene toward the end of the film, she crashes into the Fortress of Solitude while Superman is resting after his fight to save Metropolis from Luthor's pocket universe. She thanks him for looking after Krypto, which reveals to the audience that the destructive (but adorable) super dog actually belongs to her. When she leaves, Superman references her "partying" on planets with a red sun that disable her Kryptonian powers, enabling her to get drunk. This is all a setup for the next movie in the DC Universe, "Supergirl," which is based on Tom King's"Woman of Tomorrow" series. That sees Supergirl travel across the galaxy with Krypto on a quest for revenge. "Supergirl" will be released in June 2026.
Business Insider
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
'Superman' features 3 major cameos. One sets up the next movie in the DC Universe.
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Superman." The new " Superman" features three cameos that may surprise fans —including one that sets up the next movie in the rebooted DC Universe. The film starts three years into Superman (David Corenswet) being a superhero in Metropolis, but references his origin story. Named Kal-El when his Kryptonian parents sent him in a spaceship to Earth, he is discovered by the Kansas farmers Jonathan (Pruitt Taylor Vance) and Martha Kent (Neva Howell). They name him Clark Kent, and he eventually becomes Superman. The first major cameo in "Superman" ties into this origin story. Bradley Cooper plays Jor-El, Superman's father Thankfully, the 2025 movie does not retread the familiar story of the planet Krypton being destroyed. But it does reveal that Superman rewatches a damaged recording of his parents in his Arctic base, called the Fortress of Solitude, to soothe him after stressful battles. In the footage, Oscar-nominee Bradley Cooper plays Jor-El, Superman's father, alongside the "Westworld" actor Angela Sarafyan as Lara Lor-Van, the hero's mother. The pair speak in their native Kryptonian language, but the translation says that they love their son and that he's meant to be the best of them. The billionaire villain, Lex Luthor, (Nicholas Hoult) repairs the recording and discovers that the second half of the message suggests that Superman's parents actually wanted their son to conquer Earth. Luthor uses this information to turn the public against Superman. John Cena reprises his role as Peacemaker The next cameo sees John Cena briefly return to play Christopher Smith, also known as the violent vigilante Peacemaker, on a TV talk show. During Cena's short appearance, he's discussing the controversy surrounding Superman and the Kryptonian recording while Kent is at home in his apartment with his girlfriend, Lois Lane. It's a fun cameo, as Peacemaker criticizes Superman with some childish insults. Cena's antihero will return in "Peacemaker" season two in August 2025. 'House of the Dragon' star Milly Alcock makes her debut as Supergirl The third and final cameo of the film sees Milly Alcock crash (literally) onto the screen as Kara Zor-El, also known as Superman's cousin, Supergirl. Yes, that's right, Kent isn't the only surviving Kryptonian in the galaxy. Supergirl has numerous origin stories in the comics, but the common thread is that she's sent to Earth to protect her younger cousin, only to find that he's grown up in the time it took her to get to Earth. In a short scene toward the end of the film, she crashes into the Fortress of Solitude while Superman is resting after his fight to save Metropolis from Luthor's pocket universe. She thanks him for looking after Krypto, which reveals to the audience that the destructive (but adorable) super dog actually belongs to her. When she leaves, Superman references her "partying" on planets with a red sun that disable her Kryptonian powers, enabling her to get drunk. This is all a setup for the next movie in the DC Universe, "Supergirl," which is based on Tom King's"Woman of Tomorrow" series. That sees Supergirl travel across the galaxy with Krypto on a quest for revenge. "Supergirl" will be released in June 2026.
Graziadaily
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Frankie Grande Has Released His Debut Album And Received Sage Advice From Sister Ariana
Frankie Grande, the elder brother of pop sensation and Oscar-nominee Ariana Grande, has released a debut album entitled 'Hotel Rock Bottom'. It is inspired by his sobriety journey and was released in tandem with Pride month. 'I'm eight years sober,' he told ITV News. 'Had I tried to release an album while I was drinking and using, I probably would have never released it, it probably would never have seen the light of day. If it did, god knows what it would have sounded like. I'm grateful that I took my time and waited until my instrument was clean and pure, and I could tell the stories that I wanted to tell.' Frankie, 42, is an American actor, singer, dancer, television host and producer who boasts 1 million Instagram followers and 1.5M TikTok followers. He performed on Broadway as Franz in the musical Rock of Ages (2014–2015) and in Mamma Mia! (2007–2010) and has also starred in regional theatre productions. In 2014, he was a contestant on series 16 of Big Brother , and in 2023, he was a contestant on Big Brother Reindeer Games . Frankie Grande and Ariana Grande at the Paris Olympics in 2024. (Photo: IMAGO) He recently celebrated the launch of his album at London Pride. 'It's a beautiful place with so many people of different backgrounds,' he told ITV News. 'The LGBTQ+ community has always been so accepted here, especially in music. I do think you have broken many queer artists here before the United States.' Frankie spoke openly about how supportive his family has been, both about his sexuality and his sobriety journey. 'I'm so blessed that I have such an amazingly accepting family who has allowed me to be my authentic self and supported me through some of the difficulties of being a public figure who is out, loud and proud!' 'As someone who has the privilege to be this gay publicly,' he continued, 'I'm really grateful to be handing the microphone, and I'm hoping to inspire younger people to feel empowered and to be themselves authentically.' Frankie says his younger sister Ariana, who is one of the leads in the mega-hit Wicked , has given him some sage advice about his music career. 'She's been unbelievable throughout this process. I think the thing she's learnt throughout her many years in the music industry is to trust her gut. For me, as a fledgling artist, I am scared to trust my gut; I will overthink things if I'm allowed to. I learnt from her to trust your gut, and it will lead you on the path that you are supposed to go down.' His new music, including singles like 'Boys' and 'Rhythm of Love' can be found on Spotify and other streaming platforms. Also supporting Frankie's music career all the way is his husband-of-three years Hale Leon. The pair was married by Frankie's mother, Joan Grande, at the Grande family home in Boca Raton, Florida, in a small, Star Wars -themed ceremony on 4 May 2022. Ariana once described them as 'two very incredible and cosmically destined souls'. Hale Leon, 33, is a model, actor and influencer. After their wedding, Frankie posted on Instagram to write: 'I can't wait to share all of these amazing stories, pics and videos with you all slowly as we get them, but for now, let me just say I am the happiest I've ever been. I'm married to the man of my dreams, our families have merged together so beautifully, and we are well on our way to happily ever after. I love you Hale Grande. I am so so honored to be your husband.' Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).
