When a group of friends discovers how to conjure spirits by using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill -- until one of them unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
Director: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Cast: Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson, Alexandria Steffensen
Release Date: July 28, 2023
Genre: Horror Thriller
Rated R for strong/bloody violent content, some sexual material and language throughout
Runtime: 1h 35m
Talk to Me is slick enough to make for an entertaining thrill ride but its only sporadically scary and hampered by predictable turns and characters who make the worst possible decisions. Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou direct their debut film with a surprisingly confident hand as they deliver an efficient film that sets up its scares with an energetic verve that's impressive. They don't waste much time setting the table before they move into the general premise of the story which is effectively dumb kids keep messing with a Ouija Board type deal. They make strong use of sound design and camera moves to give each sequence a disorienting feel with each moment capped off with shocks or brutality. This isn't the kind of horror film that's subtle or nuanced instead it's more interested in old school approaches to make you jump or squirm. The brothers touch on interesting concepts throughout like possession going viral or reality bending moments but they never lean into them enough to make the most of those moments. The script suffers from a similarly scattered approach as it switches its thematic focus from one theme to another which feels like a missed opportunity. The film moves at such a steady pace that it's easy to overlook these faults especially since the cast is fully committed especially Sophie Wilde in the lead role. Wilde's large expressive eyes work perfectly for the role as she gives her a character a simmering unresolved pain that feel authentic. The supporting cast isn't asked to do much but Miranda Otto makes the most of her moments onscreen by giving her character a nice bit of depth. Ultimately, Talk to Me is the kind of film that wears its inspirations on its sleeve for better or worse since it makes for some solid moments but not very many surprises.
C+
