Stiff, pale, and hand-some: A review of 'Talk to Me'

A scene from 'Talk To Me'

A hit during Sundance 2023, this directorial debut feature film of the Philippou Brothers from Australia was one of the hotly-bid movies from the festival, with A24 getting the US distribution rights. It stamps Danny and Michael Philippou as a team to look out for in the horror genre, and who knows, if they’ll eventually expand to other genres. On the strength of this ‘calling card’, they certainly know how to craft plot-driven films with strong character development. Written by Danny P. and Bill Hinzman; the film’s main protagonist is Mia (Sophie Wilde), whose mother, Rhea, committed suicide two years ago. Depressed, questioning what she and her father could have done to save her mother, she seeks solace in the family of her best friend, Jade (Alexandra Jensen), and Jade’s younger brother Riley (Joe Bird). To complicate things, Jade is in a relationship with an ex of Mia’s.
Harkening back to how young kids would be fascinated by summoning the dead via an Ouija board, the new device in this crazy film is a severe, embalmed hand that you grip, after a candle is lit, and you utter the words, ‘Talk to me’. You hold on to the hand, say ‘I let you in’, and are possessed for 90 seconds - the connection being cut as the candle is blown out, or the spirits stay. It’s a device that offers a lot of possibilities, both in terms of motive and for the cast t display their acting chops. What's ingenious about this film is how it relies more on plot development and character to drive the narrative, eschewing jump scares, and CGI. There’s gruesome makeup and effects; aided by a lot of the sound design - and the film is definitely not for the squeamish or faint of heart. It’s highly suggested, ultra-violent, and bloody when it needs to be, and can imagine the film, provoking nightmares for certain individuals who’ll watch the film. Towards the last quarter, a Sixth Sense vibe is introduced, but I’ll credit the filmmakers for coming up with a film that has enough originality in it and introduces us to a new directing team who take assured and mature steps - for a film that’s their first feature film endeavor.
Their handling of the cast is similarly impressive. While Sophie Wilde as Mia does most of the heavy lifting and is truly impressive; I’ll also give a shoutout to Joe Bird as Riley, the impressionable younger brother who undergoes the most painful transformation to watch. The two are excellent in the sequences when they have to act possessed, never overdoing it or turning it into something campy. They keep it grounded, like kids we know or encounter every day, and it’s much more effective for that. Do watch Talk to Me if you like horror films. Filipinos certainly seem to, as we made Insidious the top-grossing film of 2023 so far (will Barbie overtake it?); and this relatively unheralded film knows how to deliver the goods.