Weekend Watch: Talk To Me

Teens contact the spirit world with terrifying results

Image Credit: A24

Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, in which I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, the dangers of possession for likes and thrills. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite and Threads/Instagram: @jammerwhite

Hello and welcome to the latest instalment of Famed Horror Non-Fan James Recommends A Scary Movie. In this case, I’m only too happy to endorse Talk To Me, which hails in part from an idea by Daley Peterson, who happens to be one of the creators of kids’ series Bluey, who also happens to be Daryl from the Thor shorts (and a cameo in Love & Thunder). Talk about adaptable…

Talk To Me has been brought to the screen by fellow Aussies Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou, filmmaking siblings who got their start on YouTube and have been praised for their inventive, livewire, funny style. They bring a similar energy to the film, but layer in plenty of emotion and trauma to boot.

Written by Danny with contributions from a mix of other writers and cast members including Pearson, Bill Hinzman, Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson and Alexandria Steffensen, this is a creative, collaborative and, perhaps most importantly, disturbingly entertaining riff on movies such as Flatliners.

Wilde stars as Mia, part of a loose teenage friend group who come into possession –– pun entirely intended –– of a spooky hand that, it is claimed, is the embalmed and ceramic enclosed hand of a medium who could contact the dead. Videos have been circulating via social media of teens channelling spirits, so while Mia is less than enthused (she’s still mourning her mother, she tags along with pal Jade (Jensen) to a party where the hand comes into play. At first, it all seems like fun and games, the possessions leading to much craziness and viral videos for likes.

But, of course, things go scare shaped quickly. Mia contacts her mother (or is it?) and becomes obsessed with finding the truth behind her apparent suicide (or was it?).

The Philippou duo brings plenty of style and verve to the film, but never forget to include the substance along with it. Issues such as race, trauma, foster families, grief and more are all touched upon and a healthy respect for the art of practical effects (with some digital tinkering for good measure) makes this one of the best horror movies to happen along in a while. The decisions from some of the characters might be dumb in true genre style, but they’re believably teenage in nature and completely compelling thanks to a great cast.

This signifies the big screen debut of an exciting (and hilariously silly –– just check out any interview with them) pair of filmmakers with a bright future. Support low-budgeted movies of quality and see this one ASAP.

Talk To Me is in UK and US cinemas now.