Talk to Me gives a grieving teen a hand…literally.
In the summer of 2023, the Australian supernatural horror film Talk to Me, directed by the Philippou brothers, Danny and Michael, emerged as the biggest horror hit of the season.
At the age of 16, Danny experienced a severe car accident that left him trembling uncontrollably. His distress continued until his sister joined him in the hospital and clasped his hand. Danny recalls, “The shaking stopped. The touch of someone I love brought me out of it.” This poignant moment and the profound impact of human touch left a lasting impression on him. via Time.
Talk to Me has a straightforward plot. A group of friends stumble upon a way to summon spirits using an embalmed hand, and they become addicted to the thrilling experience. However, things take a terrifying turn when one of them goes too far, unleashing supernatural forces. The rules for using the hand are simple: light a candle, hold the hand, say “talk to me,” and invite the spirit. But there’s a critical rule – never leave the door to the spirit world open for more than 90 seconds.
Critics are calling it a “nightmarish collision of the living and the dead” and “an all-out nerve-jangler.”
We’ve come to understand the risks of toying with the deceased. Films like “The Exorcist” have made it clear that dabbling with a Ouija board can be akin to unlocking a portal. However, the Gen Z protagonists in our story seem to disregard these cautions and eagerly embrace the trend of communicating with the dead.
“Talk to Me plays like The Exorcist for the social media generation, and the filmmakers cite the 1973 classic as an inspiration.” via Time.
“‘Unlike in The Exorcist, the characters of Talk to Me quickly accept that demonic possession is real and use it for fun,’ says Michael. ‘It’s like what would kids nowadays be doing? And that’s exactly what would happen.'” via Time.
The movie currently sits as a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes making it the highest rated horror film of the year thus far, and is a major box office success, grossing $90 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget, becoming A24‘s second highest grossing film (following last year’s Everything Everywhere All at Once). A sequel is currently in development.
Talk to Me is a unique horror film that caught my attention with the presence of a Final Girl character. Beyond the supernatural and gruesome aspects, the movie delves deeply into the theme of grief, illustrating its transformative and overwhelming nature. For Mia, the central character, this exploration comes at a high personal cost as she grapples with terrifying encounters throughout the film. The combination of horror and the exploration of complex emotions makes Talk to Me a compelling and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
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