Talk To Me ★★★☆☆
Talk to Me is what happens when you mix adolescent recklessness with a demonic spin on party games. Imagine truth or dare, but instead of mild humiliation or silly antics, you might end up possessed by a malevolent spirit. Sounds fun, right? For this Australian horror flick, the fun quickly curdles into something far nastier, as a group of teens discover that communing with the dead via a creepy ceramic hand isn’t as harmless as it seems. Go figure.
The premise is simple: A bunch of teens get their kicks by allowing spirits to temporarily possess them, turning the whole thing into a viral-worthy experience. At the heart of it is Mia (Sophie Wilde), still reeling from her mother’s death and finding solace in this twisted game. But things predictably spiral out of control when Mia, hungry for something more meaningful than TikTok likes, takes things a little too far—opening the door to some pretty nasty entities. This is the kind of movie where you scream at the screen, “Don’t do that!” only for the characters to dive headfirst into their doom anyway.
At its core, Talk to Me is more than just a scare-fest. It dives into heavy themes of grief and isolation, using the possession gimmick as a metaphor for losing control when the weight of trauma becomes too much. Mia’s desperation to connect with her deceased mother is haunting—quite literally—and adds a thick layer of pathos to the film. You almost forget about the gore… almost.
Visually, the film is sleek and stylish, with the Philippou brothers, who previously cut their teeth on chaotic YouTube stunts, showing impressive restraint (well, by their standards). The cinematography is clean and moody, amplifying the tension without the need for excessive jump scares. They prefer to let the dread simmer, often holding on a character’s terrified expression just a beat too long, making you squirm as you wonder what they’re seeing. The possession scenes are unnervingly convincing—if you’re into watching teens contort themselves while drooling black bile, you’re in for a treat.
Speaking of teens, the cast does a stellar job of selling the horror. Sophie Wilde is a standout as Mia, carrying the emotional weight of the film while simultaneously being our conduit into this supernatural disaster. Miranda Otto also deserves a nod as the no-nonsense mother, Sue, grounding the chaos with her sharp wit and steely resolve. You almost wish you could have a movie just about her trying to keep these kids in line.
However, Talk to Me isn’t without its flaws. The pacing can be uneven, with a stellar, adrenaline-pumping opening that the rest of the movie struggles to match. There’s also a sense that the film’s best ideas are sometimes left underdeveloped, as if the Philippous were saving them for a sequel (which, judging by the box office, they might just get). You’ll walk away with more questions than answers, but maybe that’s the point—leaving you with a lingering sense of unease long after the credits roll.
If you’re a horror fan who enjoys a bit of psychological depth with your spooks, Talk to Me will certainly scratch that itch. But be warned—this isn’t your average ghost story. It’s grim, unsettling, and will probably make you think twice about playing with any ceramic hands you come across at parties.
This one’s for fans of cerebral horror with a side of gruesome. If you prefer your scares with deeper emotional stakes, it’s well worth a watch. For the casual viewer, though, its more intense and nihilistic moments might be a tough sell. A fun Friday night flick? Maybe not, unless you enjoy going to bed questioning your own life choices.
