Verdict: 4/5
Australian horror ‘Talk To Me’ stands tall alongside any American film of the same genre – a real win for local filmmaking, with a clever storyline and plenty of mystery and intrigue throughout.
The compelling story focuses on an old concept – human possession by supernatural spirits, made possible in this scenario by a severed ceramic hand with a frightening history.
It all starts with a bit of teenage fun – say the magic words ‘talk to me’ and ‘I let you in’ and suddenly a dead soul is inside you – but let go of that hand before 90 seconds is up, or said soul may just stick around.
Friends Mia (Sophie Wilde) and Jade (Alexandra Jensen) have differing views over the experience – Mia finds it intoxicating, Jade sceptical and concerned from the start. And she has more reason to worry when her younger brother Riley (Joe Bird) opts to have a go – with significant consequences. When he connects with Mia’s late mother’s soul, all bets are off.
There’s plenty of shocks here, and some definite ‘look away now’ moments, including a shower scene late in the film that is not for those carrying a weak stomach into the theatre.
What’s interesting here is that ‘Talk To Me’ opts not to rely on body count or jump scares to get its point across; and it’s an effective strategy.
Unlike many horror flicks, you do actually become endeared to the characters – particularly Mia, whose plight is particularly tough to watch and has a fair bit of depth to it.
There is a youthful energy around this flick, and it has sequels and franchise written all over it.
Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou have landed on a winner.
See this movie at Hoyts Penrith.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.