Talk to Me

Name: Talk to Me
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: July 28, 2023
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Alexandra Jensen, Alexandria Steffensen, Ari McCarthy, Chris Alosio, Joe Bird

2023

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 75 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 75 Ratings

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Talk To Me

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: July 28, 2023 | R

Starring: Alexandra Jensen, Alexandria Steffensen, Ari McCarthy, Chris Alosio, Joe Bird, Marcus Johnson, Miranda Otto, Otis Dhanji, Sophie Wilde, Zoe Terakes

Summary: When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.

Director: Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Erielle Sudario

Jul 20, 2023

Talk to Me is an aculmination of years worth viral content creation, mixed in with Australian storytelling. Together, it transformed a comedic short premise into something that gets your heart racing. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Jul 25, 2023

Like that damn disembodied hand, Talk to Me will keep you in its grips throughout. Read full review

The Playlist Mike DeAngelo

Jan 28, 2023

On the surface, Talk to Me is a blast of demonic horror that will make your skin crawl. Underneath, it offers a new twist on the teen horror film that explores the complexities of grief and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Read full review

Empire John Nugent

Jul 25, 2023

Tense, stressful and savagely staged, this is a scarily good debut from YouTubers Danny and Michael Philippou. Be sure to hold someone’s hand while watching. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Jul 28, 2023

Even if Talk to Me feels at times as if some crucial, characters-just-hanging-out material failed to make the final cut, the movie gets under your skin. Read full review

Alison Willmore

Jul 28, 2023

Talk to Me doesn’t quite have something pointed to say about it, or anything else, but that’s okay — it’s just here to show you a good time and then usher itself out before overstaying its welcome. Read full review

Matthew Monagle

Jul 26, 2023

Talk to Me is hardly a bad horror film, but the disconnect between what was and what could be looms large over the final act. Read full review

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User Reviews

Thisalike2

Jul 29, 2023

Talk to me is wonderfully made. The directors have "a hand" for directing in a new way, exploring details and arranging them. The actors are really into it, creating their characters in a fascinating believable way. The story is full of layers you cannot count at the first view. The movie isTalk to me is wonderfully made. The directors have "a hand" for directing in a new way, exploring details and arranging them. The actors are really into it, creating their characters in a fascinating believable way. The story is full of layers you cannot count at the first view. The movie is a real gem. I watched a lot of movies and had begun to miss the love in a lot of works the last years. Found it in this movie. Everyone please go on with your art.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

zNeverSleep

Aug 19, 2023

Truly breathtaking.

Leaving the theater without saying anything for a while is a powerful way to convey the impact this movie had on me. It grips you from the very beginning and continually intensifies (or worsens, if you catch my drift). Watching horror movies isn't easy for me, being anTruly breathtaking.

Leaving the theater without saying anything for a while is a powerful way to convey the impact this movie had on me. It grips you from the very beginning and continually intensifies (or worsens, if you catch my drift). Watching horror movies isn't easy for me, being an agnostic with no strong beliefs. As a cinephile, I yearn to experience fear and discomfort, but films often lean too heavily on common fears and cheap tactics like jump scares. For a horror movie to truly affect me, it needs to be well-crafted, at the very least, as I don't find fear for myself, but rather for the characters. I want to immerse myself in the story, imagining that I'm right there in that universe. And this movie absolutely nails it.

The initial hand sequence is flawless. It evokes intrigue, just like it does for the characters. A whirlwind of emotions courses through you – a blend of fear, excitement, and curiosity. This effect isn't solely due to the skillful editing; the actors truly shine. Their performances are top-notch. The moments when they're possessed are genuinely uncanny. And when "it" threatens the boy... oh my god. That was incredibly terrifying.

The plot is quite solid. The characters are well-rounded, with substantial backgrounds, and their dialogues feel authentic, making it easy to form a connection with them. The direction masterfully builds suspense and delivers in the most impactful moments. I experienced two intense emotional rushes while watching this film (the type that sends shivers down your spine). Precisely the sensation I felt while watching "Midsommar" and "Hereditary." However, this movie brought something new. In two specific scenes, I found myself with true anxiety symptoms. I was so eager to uncover what would transpire that my heart seemed to pound against my chest. It was an absolutely astonishing experience. Additionally, the Dolby Atmos audio was mind-bending. I genuinely couldn't discern whether the sounds were originating from the theater or the actual film.

In any case, I extend my gratitude to A24 for believing in this project.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BeardedYoda

Aug 28, 2023

Talk to Me is possibly the best horror movie I have seen in theaters since Ari Aster's Hereditary. The film is beautifully shot, has excellent performances, and delivers a genuinely authentic and horrifying story that will stick with you after the end credits begin to roll.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TAPR

Aug 22, 2023

O filme é muito montanha russa. Os momentos bons são muito bons, mas quando fica parado dispersa quase ficando tedioso, porém, faz parte da construção. As atuações são sensacionais e a ideia de como contactar os espíritos é genial. Não tem jump scare bobo o que já vale muito.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jul 30, 2023

It's never a good thing when hype can work against the overall experience of a film. However, I must admit that despite the impressively over-the-top praise I heard about Talk to Me, the movie does manage to be genuinely entertaining, even if it's not particularly scary.

The atmosphereIt's never a good thing when hype can work against the overall experience of a film. However, I must admit that despite the impressively over-the-top praise I heard about Talk to Me, the movie does manage to be genuinely entertaining, even if it's not particularly scary.

The atmosphere effectively sells the story, setting the tone quite well. The plot dynamics unfold quickly in just a few minutes, and when the moments of horror do arrive, they possess a certain charm, but are far from being truly terrifying.

They aim to be unsettling and succeed to some extent, but lack the element of shock. While the most graphic scene does its job, overall, the film is relatively average and shares similarities with many other horror films of recent years in terms of violence and gore gimmicks.

I firmly believe that Talk to Me's greatest strength lies in the dramatic weight of Mia's character, as her loss and grief fuel her motivations, leading to her cruel outcome.

However, the film's main issues arise from the unexplored plot holes, especially concerning the concept and mythology behind the hand used to contact the spirits.
There was a missed opportunity to delve deeper into this, leaving me with several unanswered questions.

The film jumps straight into direct horror and fails to explore much beyond its predictable genre moves, leaving me wanting more.
In my opinion it doesn't open any doors to disappointment, but it's certainly a problem that the film in general drags down and never gets rid of.

Is it worth seeing? Certainly. However, I do think the buzz given to it has been overblown, and not because the high expectations hindered the experience, but because, despite being well crafted, Talk to Me ultimately plays within a very familiar and limited framework without trying to break out of it for any reason.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

alanpotter17

Aug 18, 2023

Cinematograficamente falando, "Fale comigo" tem elementos de sobra para ser visto com grandes méritos. O início conta com uma edição esperta, que vai direto ao ponto, e ainda assim consegue criar a tensão necessária para se envolver (tapa na cara de quem acha que ambientação tem a ver com umCinematograficamente falando, "Fale comigo" tem elementos de sobra para ser visto com grandes méritos. O início conta com uma edição esperta, que vai direto ao ponto, e ainda assim consegue criar a tensão necessária para se envolver (tapa na cara de quem acha que ambientação tem a ver com um filme arrastado). E ainda dialoga com os jovens de maneira a não tratá-los como idiotas.
Aliás, reforço aqui a edição, a cena em que vários dos adolescentes experimentam tocar "a mão", que é quando são possuídos e têm visões de pessoas mortas, foi muito bem construída tecnicamente, mostrou o que deveria mostrar, a banalização do ato numa espécie de catarse coletiva.
Nesta primeira parte do filme, ao explorar um sentimento coletivo de jovens que canalizam suas frustrações e esperanças a um objeto do além, capta muito bem o estado atual da adolescência, desamparada em suas aspirações pessoais e sociais, ainda que lotadas de informações a um palmo de suas mãos.
É como se o sobrenatural fosse apenas um canal para discutir, em tons psicanalíticos, seus traumas, ou mesmo o narcisismo inerente a suas formas de aceitação tribal. Lembrei dos filmes do Linklater que conseguem quase sempre alcançar esse espírito de época.
Ainda assim, na metade seguinte o roteiro joga por terra a edição inteligente e se concentra no drama pessoal de uma jovem com sua mãe morta, inserindo mais dois irmãos, sendo um rapaz jovem e sua amiga, e ainda o namorado da sua amiga. Ou seja, aquilo que era mais coletivo, precisou ser enxuto a um caso mais particular, com os demais personagens sendo posto ao limbo.
Mas o que mais me ressenti não foi pela mudança de foco, mesmo porque o enredo tem seus tons interessantes, mas o fato de que o clima claustrofóbico cedeu lugar a uma projeção genérica e muitas vezes burocrática. Por mais que o final seja interessante e mostre o círculo vicioso do evento, ou seja, sem fazer concessões, não deixa de soar típico demais. os sustos diminuem, o impacto diminui, e tudo flui para que o filme termine sem uma grande sensação de impacto. Ou fui eu que fui com mais expectativa do que poderia.
Mas não é um filme ruim, longe disso. Ainda prefiro "X" ou "Pearl", ou o excelente "Morte, morte e morte". Esse aqui acabou sendo tragado por conflitos individuais que tocaram mais para o drama do que para o horror em si, mesmo que ainda assim seja uma boa sessão de entretenimento.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Asimler

Aug 19, 2023

Some genuinely unsettling moments, however it’s wildly uneven and has several plot holes. Major characters are left totally undeveloped, several scenes defy logic, and it ends with an all too predictable scene. Unfortunately, the characters are so unpleasant and annoying it’s hard toSome genuinely unsettling moments, however it’s wildly uneven and has several plot holes. Major characters are left totally undeveloped, several scenes defy logic, and it ends with an all too predictable scene. Unfortunately, the characters are so unpleasant and annoying it’s hard to sympathize with any of them. I might as well throw in that the soundtrack choices are grating.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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