Talk to Me
While "Talk to Me" contains a lot of elements that are pretty standard for modern horror movies -- built on an allegory for loss, lots of graphic body horror, teenagers being horny and irresponsible -- it still manages to feel refreshing and original, mostly because it remembers to have fun. It expertly navigates a tightrope between giving the very serious thematic elements their due and still managing to laugh at the overall ridiculousness of a severed hand allowing a bunch of kids to talk to mean spirits. The little routine that must be carried out to initiate the possession is treated like a drinking game at a college party, while onlookers gleefully film on their phones and cackle at the messed up things the possessed person ends up doing. It's easy to imagine that this is what would really happen if a group of modern Australian teens inexplicably got their hands on an incredibly powerful object; it'd be used for laughs. The possession scenes get better and better throughout the movie, going from playful hilarity to absolutely terrifying, sometimes all at once.
The movie is centered around 17-year-old Mia (Sophie Wilde), who is struggling with the second anniversary of her mother's suicide and finding solace with her adopted family, consisting of her best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen) and Jade's younger brother Riley (Joe Bird). Mia is understandably upset and looks to blow off some steam at a house party hosted by Hayley and Joss, two guys who have been posting social media videos of people doing wild things after they grasp a mysterious severed hand and seemingly become possessed. Jade is skeptical but Mia wants to believe it's real and volunteers to play the possession game, finding herself addicted to the rush after discovering that it's all very real. She convinces Hayley and Joss to come over the next day so they can all have some fun with the hand, but things quickly spiral out of control once Mia convinces the gentle Riley to play the game.
Even though it hits a lot of familiar beats, it's a surprisingly tight script with some clever twists and turns and some great rewards for those who are paying attention. Seemingly throwaway lines end up having great significance to the logistics of the plot, and even the sound design is brilliantly used to give you clues about what's going on. If you haven't picked up on some of these things, the ending might fall a little flat and you might find yourself with a lot of questions, but all of the answers are there in the movie, even more apparent on repeat viewings. The Philippou brothers clearly have great affection for the genre and they've put a lot of love and attention into the little details, which really makes a difference when retreading some familiar ground.
The movie also serves as a terrific showcase for Sophie Wilde, who is so bright and full of sweetness that we desperately want her to come through the other side of her trauma. Her loving relationship and chemistry with Joe Bird as Riley really helps propel the emotion of the second half of the movie. Even as she becomes addicted to using the hand, we understand and want her to stop, furthering the effectiveness of the allegory of using substance abuse to numb the pain of trauma. Wilde has a lot to balance and does so brilliantly; the movie simply wouldn't work without her layered performance.
It's a remarkably confident and well-considered debut from the Philippou brothers and a potentially star-making role for Sophie Wilde, and ultimately an absolute blast to watch in a crowded theater. This will likely end up as one of the finer horror movies of the year, and here's hoping the Philippou's can ride this wave into more exciting big-screen projects.
