Talk to Me Review
There are certain expectations whenever a new A24 horror picture is released. There will be scares, but it will also be about something. Of course, most horror movies are like that way, but the distributor really plays up that aspect. Metaphors are prominent in their horror films. There are a number different things going on in Talk to Me, not all of them are completely explored. At the same time, the story's frightening aspect really hits home. Is it frightening? Not always, right? Is it depressing and upsetting? It certainly is.
Talk to Me works best as a resume builder for young filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou. They're creating something dark and elegant, yet with an old-school feel. It's a fascinating tightrope to walk, and while they're not always fully effective, you always get the impression that you're seeing something new. To say the least, that counts for something.
After a stunning opening sequence, we meet Mia (Sophie Wilde), a teen. She's grappling with the anniversary of her mother's potential suicide, which has separated her from her grieving father Max (Marcus Johnson). Mia spends more time with her best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen), Riley (Joe Bird), and their mother Sue (Miranda Otto). A sinister force is ready to put a surrogate family situation to the test.
They come across something wonderful during a party with pals, including Mia's ex and Jade's current lover Daniel (Otis Dhanji). The hosts, Joss (Chris Alosio) and Hayley (Zoe Terakes), have an embalmed hand that can communicate with the dead. You grasp the hand, say "talk to me," and are possessed for 90 seconds or fewer. They've started posting recordings for their classmates as a party trick. Things don't go as planned when Mia volunteers to try it out. Things worsen as Riley begs to try it. After allowing some dark energies to enter, both of them begin to feel something bad in their midst. More would ruin some really grim surprises.
The actors is asked to give a lot of weight to what could easily be frivolous. Sophie Wilde is an excellent scream queen and the only character who has significant growth. The plot revolves around her, but Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, and Alexandra Jensen all play important roles. They simply do not receive the extra attention that Wilde does. Miranda Otto has a few good moments but is otherwise wasted, while Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson, and Zoe Terakes don't make much of an impression. Sarah Brokensha, Sunny Johnson, Ari McCarthy, and others appear as extras.
Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou, filmmakers (and twin brothers), promote themselves as horror experts to watch. They co-directed and co-wrote the script with Daley Pearson, and both elements seem promising. The actual scares are mostly jump scares, but they're done really well and there isn’t many of them. So is their direction, as evidenced by the stunning tracking shot in the first scene. The screenplay has some lofty goals that it has yet to achieve, but it is not without bravado. They discover some fresh shadows to work with within an old-fashioned possession and ghostly haunting story.
Apart from elevated horrors, Talk to Me has a lot on its mind. Does it all work? No. Does enough of it work to warrant a recommendation? Absolutely. It's very much an A24 work, so if you like this type of horror flick, you're likely to like it here. It's not an instant classic or in the upper echelon of the genre, but it's a rock solid entry that knows how to capture bleakness in a cinematic manner.