Introduction
Creepy with crackling suspense, Talk To Me is a fantastic, supernatural horror film from co-directors Michael and Danny Philippou. Originally a short story by Daley Pearson, the screenplay was written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman. As their first feature-length directorial debut, the Philippou brothers bring a tense atmosphere and dread in a tangible tale about grief, peer pressure, and evil forces.
Synopsis
Mia, played by Sophie Wilde, is a kind-hearted teenager who is mourning the death of her beloved mother. Being unable to emotionally connect with her father, she turns to her best friend, Jade, and her family as a support system. Jade’s family, consisting of her mother Sue, and her younger brother Riley welcome Mia into their lives. Mia is particularly close to Riley and is akin to a second sister to him.
One night, Jade and Mia sneak out of the house to attend a party. Jade wants some time with Daniel, her boyfriend, while Mia is more of a tag-along. She seems to struggle to fit in. Daniel’s group of rowdy pals play a game with a mysterious embalmed hand. The hand can allow whoever is holding it to become possessed by a spirit. If the spell is broken within 90 seconds, the participant is unharmed and left exhilarated by the experience. In an effort to gain acceptance among the boisterous group, Mia bravely volunteers to play. The teens lose themselves in the fun of the game and take things too far. Things invariably go wrong. As a result, Mia finds herself in the middle of a terrifying life-and-death struggle with supernatural forces.
Analysis
One might describe the plot as a séance gone wrong, but it is much more than that. Mia, as a grieving lonely teenager, is vulnerable. It doesn’t take much to manipulate her into poor decisions on account of her vulnerabilities. This trope is the core of most supernatural horror films after all. Emotionally crippled main characters are frequently associated with supernatural manipulation. In Talk To Me, the filmmakers present this concept in a fresh way that connects profoundly as a storytelling mechanism. As Mia is pulled deeper and deeper into the horror of the situation, it really gets to you. Experiencing her journey in this dark and thrilling movie is bone-chilling.
Another clever accomplishment of the film is that it manages to answer just enough questions to be satisfying, while still maintaining a tantalizing mystery. We never fully learn where the embalmed hand comes from, how it works, or how it came into the hands of these teens in the first place. But this works wonderfully to keep you thinking long after the film ends. However, we learn enough to know what is happening to Mia with excellent timing. And these bits of information drop-in nicely (and creepily) as the tension and horror escalate.
Emotional Tone
Talk To Me is effective and creepy as hell! It doesn’t pull punches. In the very first scenes, we learn that all bets are off. Got a problem with teens in true peril? Walk away from this one, because it’s not going to land well.
This film has an impeccable emotional sway to it from beginning to end with layered nuance throughout. Concepts that are truly horrible, land with gut-wrenching efficacy, and from the perspective created, are totally believable. The tender moments of the story are also potent. They are necessary and create the emotional stakes that entrap the audience in Mia’s journey. Additionally, the filmmakers nail something else that many horror films miss, the ending. It is terrifying, heartbreaking, and perfect.
