Talk to Me (2023) (dir. Danny and Michael Philippou)

listen to my interview with directors, Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou

At a certain point in A24’s latest horror excursion, our lead character reveals that they have experienced a sudden loss. My mind started to yawn at the prospect of another allegory and/or exploration of grief. Much to my surprise there’s a montage early on that immediately made me forget that initial reservation. By the sudden, melancholic conclusion, Talk To Me ends up becoming the horror film of the year so far. 

I know I shouldn’t harp on the ‘grief’ angle as being tiresome because lots of genre films tackle that subject for a reason. Death is inevitable, we are scared of it and when we lose someone close to us, it’s hard not to linger inside a perpetual haze. It reminds me of the feeling of depression in which you essentially walk around as a tormented ghost while everyone else goes about their day. One of the best films to ever capture this is Carnival of Souls. 

Talk to Me does not reach the high bar of that horror classic by any stretch but in terms of modern horror, it really does get the job done in an effective manner that does bring to mind a more hyped up, energized version of It Follows. Introduce the premise and characters and concept, run with it and let the audience anticipate what’s coming. This even has sharp bits of levity as a result of these high schoolers trying to make sense of the madness. In other words this is a smart horror film that happens to be a LOT of fun.

The madness begins at a party of course before the title card drops. Essentially a one-shot that likely ties into the very end, it really creates a sense of terror right at the start before we’re introduced to a whole different set of characters. Mia (Sophie Wilde) is coming to grips with the circumstances of her mother’s death, but she has a good support system that includes best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen), her younger brother Riley (Joe Bird), and stepmother Sue (the great Miranda Otto). 

When the trio attends a party that involves conjuring the spirits of the dead through an embalmed hand, Mia and her friends become addicted to the thrill of witnessing the spirits and allowing them to possess their bodies, inviting them in with the phrase, “Talk to me.” It’s clear that this process for them is akin to snorting coke or popping ecstasy. They’re definitely getting a high by inviting the dead to the party. It’s all fun and games until someone gets severely, shockingly hurt. Everything then gets dangerous and creepy when Mia starts seeing her dead mother after being possessed by another spirit for more than the time allowed. Has she crossed over somehow or has the spirit crossed over into their world?

There’s a little bit of a mystery surrounding the hallucinations that even left me a bit confused about the logic of everything taking place (including a moment involving the father late in the film after he discovers the hand in her backpack). But it doesn’t matter since this is really on the level of something like Flatliners or Final Destination, only less about the kills, more about the inner turmoil of the characters. A lot of what occurs is ‘fun’ in the traditional roller-coaster sense, but it’s also tragic and difficult to watch certain characters experience such brutality (you’ll see what I mean). 

For its first act, newcomers Danny and Michael Philippou‘s debut truly has the ideal setup to hook in the audience. Yes, this is another horror film about a supernatural game with distinct rules, like how a player can’t stay in contact with a ghost for more than 90 seconds, but the creators play with their own guidelines in a way that’s refreshing, not to mention frightening. I wouldn’t say its entirely scary but it induces dread, tension and downright shock at what takes place in certain moments. It’s not a film about jump scares but building up a sense of uncertainty at what may lurk around the corner. 

The cinematography and sound design deserve a special mention - there is a dreary, muted color palette that serves to intensify the film's disturbing atmosphere. It’s dark for a reason. The camera work is meticulous and often unsettling, lending the movie an eerie, otherworldly feel. I especially like when we experience the very moment of letting the spirits inside their bodies and the way the camera just turns on its side along with whomever is possessed. There are little flourishes throughout that jar the senses.

Talk to Me intricately explores the moral quandary of knowing someone's inevitable fate but being helpless to change it, raising fascinating and troubling ideas about the nature of death. Mia knows she is haunted by what’s happened to her mother but can she overcome it? On top of that, it’s also a fun ghost-house of a horror movie that will undoubtedly satisfy fans of A24 and the horror genre. Each character feels authentic, fostering a real sense of connection with everyone, particularly Mia especially when things take a bit of a twist late in the film. How much is being manipulated is also a huge question for not only the audience, but for Mia. The ending also feels sudden but in the right way that brings it all full circle. 

I really enjoyed my time with these impulsive but self-aware teenagers as they attempt to discover the source of evil taking place around them. It’s a clever script accompanied by confident direction throughout. The Philippous twins have undoubtedly conjured up a horror film that will be talked about for a long time. It’s hard not to think of The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacob - it must be an influence, in which the titular paw is a wish-granting genie that takes away as much as it promises to give to its owner. 

Here it’s about being drawn into something new and exciting (and potentially addictive) but also knowing the limitations especially at an impressionable age which is accompanied by bigger than life feelings. What happens when this kind of otherworldly power is in the hands of those whose brains aren’t fully formed yet? This is a great idea and Talk to Me never talks down to the audience, it is more than happy to be a thrill-ride while allowing the audience to think deeply about the inevitable end that comes for us all. You gotta hand it to this directing duo, they managed to make what could become another horror classic.

Talk To Me is released nationwide in theaters on July 28, 2023. See it with a crowd!