Talk to Me – Movie Review (5/5)

TALK TO ME is a new Australian horror movie that really hits the spot for me. On top of that, it’s surprisingly deep in several ways too. Despite having great expectations for this one, they were met in full. Read our full Talk to Me movie review here and watch it in theaters now!

TALK TO ME is a new Australian horror movie released in theaters worldwide. However, despite just coming out worldwide in the summer of 2023, it’s a 2022 movie that has already taken film festivals by storm. This is also why many horror fans will be looking forward to it. And fear disappointment – just like I did!

Fortunately, this horror movie is a crazy good acquaintance. Not only does it hit the spot on an incredible number of solid horror points, but it also fits perfectly with the zeitgeist. This includes the use of social media, depression, bullying, and other things that fill people’s everyday lives. This results in a surprisingly deep movie you can’t quickly shake off.

Continue reading our Talk to Me movie review below. Find the Australian horror movie in US theaters from July 28, 2023.

When fun and games turn into brutal reality

When a group of friends get their hands on a mysterious hand that can summon spirits, it’s almost a new hobby for them all. Only the person holding the hand can see and communicate with the spirits. However, it is clear to everyone else as well that something is truly going on.

And it works. Every time. There is always a spirit ready to talk!

Forget about the Ouija board, where someone might be influencing the outcome or playing the role of a ghost. With the hand, there’s an instant connection. As soon as you take the hand and speak the words “Talk to me”, you’ll have the opportunity to communicate with a spirit.

You just don’t know which spirit you’ll be connecting with. Of course, you don’t know with an Ouija board either. However, with the hand, you’ll see the spirit.

The fact that everything is so visceral is why it quickly becomes something shared via social media. People just cannot help but film the wild events.

Not only does this “spiritual communication” begin with saying “Talk to me”. No, the next step is to say “I let you in”, and that is when the craziness begins.

You’re physically taken over by the spirit and become a passenger in your own body with someone else taking the wheel. And it’s not Jesus!

There’s only one rule

When communicating with spirits via the hand, there is only one rule: A time limit. You cannot hold hands and be “taken over” for more than 90 seconds. This is also why one should never play with this mysterious hand alone. To sever the connection, other people must physically “cut” the connection by wringing the hand out of your grasp.

But… anyone familiar with horror movies can obviously guess that this one rule will be broken. The circumstances – and not least the consequences – are not revealed here. That would be a spoiler and also just something you should experience firsthand in the movie theater.

However, I can say that it gets violent.

Extremely violent.

Oh yes, there will be blood.

Without any further comparison (at all!), several elements of Talk to Me reminded me of Hereditary. And that’s a really good thing since we also gave Hereditary a whopping five splatter rating!

Many unfamiliar faces

With this being an Australian production made by new filmmakers, there are quite a few unknown (or at least lesser-known) faces in the lead roles of Talk to Me. However, that’s obviously with the huge exception of Miranda “I am no man” Otto (currently also starring in The Clearing miniseries).

And yes, Miranda Otto is – of course – absolutely brilliant as the mother in Talk to Me. It’s quite possible that her style of direct and honest parenting will offend some Puritanical Americans. However, as a native Dane, I felt completely at home when she demonstrated tough love that you never doubted!

The all-important leading role of Mia is played by Sophie Wilde, who delivers an awe-inspiring performance. She’s both depressed and fragile as well as a person who still has courage and hope in her life. Even in spite of some pretty violent and tragic circumstances.

It’s a feature film debut for Sophie Wilde, who could definitely become a genre star. In fact, I really hope she will be!

In other key roles, we see young Joe Bird (Rabbit) as Riley, who also delivers a fantastic performance. Alexandra Jensen plays Jade. Riley is Jade’s younger brother, and Miranda Otto plays the mother of them both. Mia (Sophie Wilde) practically lives with the small family and is a sort of bonus child of the house.

Zoe Terakes (Nine Perfect Strangers) plays Hayley, who is the driving force behind all the sessions with the mysterious hand. However, it is Joss (Chris Alosio) who actually owns the hand. He got it from someone else who wanted to get rid of it. As things escalate, you can understand why.

Watch Talk to Me in a movie theater!

The filmmaker brothers Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou are co-directing this horror movie, while Danny Philippou & Bill Hinzman wrote the screenplay. It’s a solid team effort for both writing and directing which works perfectly. Also, it should be noted that it’s all based on a concept by Daley Pearson.

The Philippou brothers also have the YouTube channel RackaRacka, so they certainly have some experience in creating content that entertains. And, not least, have a feel for what can go viral. Still, it’s a crazy debut film they’ve managed to make with Talk to Me.

Based on the trailer and publicity alone, we had such great expectations. In fact, it was to such a degree that the Heaven of Horror team was nervous about whether this Aussie horror film could hold up. Fortunately, it most certainly did. All our expectations were met – and then some!

It’s actually one of the relatively few horror films that has stuck with both of us. Probably because it is so much more than “just” a spin on the whole “let’s talk to ghosts”-concept. However, obviously, Talk to Me is precisely that as well. It just manages to push the somewhat rigid framework of a “ghost movie” and it is a really good movie across genres.

Talk to Me is out in US theaters from July 28, 2023. It will be out on demand on September 12, and on Blu-ray on October 3.

Details

In Theaters: July 28, 2023
On VOD: September 12, 2023
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Directors: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Writers: Bill Hinzman, Danny Philippou
Cast: Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Marcus Johnson, Alexandria Steffensen