TALK TO ME (Sundance 2023)
This high-energy Aussie import should give the horror crowd just what they’re looking for in the form of a supernatural terror ride that sort of feels like “It Follows’ meets “The Monkey Paw” for the TikTok generation. While this movie does feature a few standard tropes and while it does tread some familiar ground in terms of the overall structure, Danny and Michael Philippou (sibling directors who are most known for their beloved RackaRacka YouTube content), bring the creep factor, scares, and gross-out moments in spades in a briskly-paced horror show that has franchise written all over it.
At the heart of “Talk to Me” is Mia (Sophia Wild), a lively young woman who, when she isn’t hanging out with her best friend, is always in search of that next big thrill. In this film, that “thrill” comes in the form of conjuring up spirits and serving as a conduit. Of course, when Mia takes things a little too far, she and a group of friends get more than they bargained for.
In addition to shades of the aforementioned “It Follows,” there are aspects of “Talk to Me” that might also remind some viewers of the likes of “Evil Dead,” The Blair Witch Project,” “Final Destination,” “Flatliners,” “Hereditary,” and even “Ghost.” That said, this isn’t to say that “Talk to Me” doesn’t have its own identity. It certainly does and more often than not, it delivers the goods.
Additionally, “Talk to Me” has the benefit of an engaging lead in Sophia Wild. Her Mia is surprisingly complex for a horror heroine and I found myself concerned for her safety, even when she’s committing completely selfish acts. This is a woman with some serious issues that stem from a personal tragedy and those issues certainly come into play in a big way. Props to Wild for delivering an effective performance. Likewise, props to Alexandra Jensen for her grounded work as Mia’s best friend and a convincing Joe Bird as a young boy who finds himself put through the proverbial ringer.
Whereas the slasher craze of the 80s would often find unsuspecting teens and twenty-somethings fornicating and getting high before being picked off one-by-one by mysterious killers, the young individuals front and center in “Talk to Me” get their kicks by serving as human hosts for spirits through the aid of an embalmed hand with supernatural properties. As such, a great deal of “Talk to Me” requires that the audience gets on board with this seemingly ridiculous premise. I mean, during my youth, if I were at a party and I saw my friend getting possessed, I knew it was time to get my ass out of there as quickly as possible. Not these characters, though. They get off on it like it’s the ultimate drug. On the other hand, we do live in a culture where an individual might eat a Tide Pod after something as simple as a dare so perhaps the key premise in “Talk to Me” isn’t that ridiculous after all. Whatever your opinion on the matter, young people getting their comeuppance for seemingly dumb or misguided decisions is part of a long-standing (and proud) horror tradition.
While there is more dramatic weight here than expected and while there are even important themes to be found (addiction, grief, guilt, the perils and pitfalls that come with social media, etc.), “Talk to Me” is more interested in giving the audience a good time and if you’re a fan of high-energy horror, you’re likely to walk away from this one satisfied. Even more so if you’re into gross-out gags that involve toes and or a bulldog. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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