As an otherwordly cautionary tale, public service announcement on the dangers of peer pressure, psychological examination on subsequent grief, and the ravages of addiction brought on by traumatic loss, Talk to Me (2023) had plenty to share through its unnerving, bleak imagery inside a tight, taut story, thanks to australian youtubers now full-length feature writer/directors Danny and Michael Philippou. This original debut from the duo, courtesy of Causeway films and the incomparable A24, has quickly become one of the sleeper hits of late summer. So, let’s talk about it. Pun entirely intended.
Mia (Sophie Wilde) is a sassy, yet despondent teenager trying to find a way to move forward with her life, after the tragic passing of her beloved mother. Upon the anniversary of the death, the young woman finds herself at a low-key party with her best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen), and Jade’s little brother Riley (Joe Bird). Once there, the shenanigans get crazier when the other teens bring out a mysterious, severed, embalmed hand. Apparently, if you hold the hand and ask it to speak to you, a supernatural sensation occurs.
Desperate to win over of her fellow partiers, Mia volunteers to hold the hand, convinced it’s only a hoax or scam. Unfortunately, it’s all too real, and the experiment turns into a night of the kids experiencing the thrill of succumbing to the hand’s eerie and frightening power. Needless to say, it gets worse from there, as Mia and her friends have to deal with the dangerous consequences of playing with forces not meant to be played with. A gripping descent takes hold.
When it comes to this impressively strong debut, the Philippous manage to expertly subvert expectations with their overall centered direction and sinister intent. In the past, their bold style consisted of hurried pacing, overly graphic bloodflow, and severe escalations, resulting in wacky carnage for the sake of shocks and mayhem. (If anyone is the creative epitome of 0 – 100 real quick, it was them) Yet here, they go against their seasoned niche, opting to slow the proceedings way down and get tremendously serious. Keeping their excellent usages of practical/special effects, impeccably intense sound designs, adding a lo-fi soundtrack and placing emphasis on a sorrowful story, compelling performances, grimly deceitful atmosphere, and striking with the intensity they’re known for at just the right times, crafting genuine moments of disturbing fright, and increasing lunacy.
Where the further innovation comes in for this particular story is the queries it presents within the driving themes of teenage angst, adolescence, and independence. In the horror genre, the stereotypical element of making asinine decisions when faced with menacing and terrifying situations has been the bread and butter of the medium since its illustrious conception. And in recent years, many films have been legitimized thanks to the current societal choices in this modern, pandemic world. Yet, what’s also been explored more frequently than ever before is the deeper emotional and psychological components of the human condition. Horror has become an unmitigated reflection of ourselves and everything that entails from the furthest reaches of mental consciousness to the darkest areas of the human soul.
While this story has plenty to say about teenage stupidity, it also focuses on how trauma can shape young minds into a state of misery and decline, which shifts the internal parameters of fear and commonality. In order to deal with the many tribulations of growing up, vices are often formed as a way to distract and alleviate such trials, even those that are an addictive, slippery slope. Of course, the regular vices can be alcohol, sex, and drugs. Just to name a few. But with this…what if it was….possession? Yes. Actual possession. Naturally, an adult would know better than to subject themselves to this kind of slope. Yet, based on current events (or just reality in general), not as many as we’d think.
In one of the biggest surprises of Talk to Me‘s simplistic yet varied narrative, its story is something that’s not as far-fetched as we’d believe. If anything, it’s distressingly and creepily….possible. And because of that surprise, its entire appeal as aforementioned horror film and cautionary tale, remains substantial. Of course none of this would’ve come together without stirring performances, as fierce newcomers Sophie Wilde and Joe Bird carry the film wonderfully with their executions. In Bird’s case, easily one of the most versatile showings I’ve seen from a young actor this year, and echoes other solid debuts like Mason Thames from The Black Phone (2021), Daveigh Chase from The Ring (2002), and even Linda Blair from The Exorcist (1973). And Wilde is definitely a force to be reckoned with as she handles every dark and sympathetic path her performance takes her like a seasoned pro in the game, whether involving scares, confusion, or relatable woes. Needless to say, here’s hoping we see more from these two in the genre because they implicitly possess the range and star power to bring visions to life with sensational talents.
Overall, Talk to Me remarkably succeeds on a multitude of levels as a brutal, terrifying film with heightened depth, contemplative insights, and rigorous reverence. The Philippous have put together a mystifying yet authentic story that brings in the teenage themes with mature layers, presented with perplexity, originality, and fury. One of the strongest features of the year and the entire genre itself. And that’s definitely worth talking about.
Rating:
Review written by Marcus Wilturner
The Super Network 