Talk to Me

I've long praised movie studio A24 for the distinct curation of indie-darlings they're able to find and give a platform to. Anymore, I find their simple logo alone creates anticipation, certainly among cinephiles like myself, but with casual audiences too. Yes, they have misses, but more often than not you're always in for a treat with what they're providing. 

Australian horror indie, Talk to Me, is a perfect example of A24 elevating a worthy film that deserves to be. Not only does the Australian setting make it feel subtly different, but it's a unique little horror film that - like the best ones - can burrow its way into your afterthoughts. 

Another topic I've discussed at large is how great the horror genre has been in recent years, if you know where to look, AND it's probably the genre I've most expanded my exposure to ever since I started Rath's Reviews. 2023 has already had a couple big ones (that I feel I may have underrated) and the effortlessly creepy Talk to Me stands tall with them. 

The premise feels fresh: a "ceramic" (allegedly) hand that looks like it's reaching out...place it on a table, light a candle, grip it as if you were to shake its hand, and say "Talk to Me". Immediately, you're interacting with a dead soul. This is the TikTok generation after all, so of course these turns are recorded and the interaction with the hand becomes a sort of drug - creating a sense of euphoria for the user while the onlookers experience a much creepier and odd show. But you mustn't stay for more than 90 seconds...or else! The prop of the hand feels instantly iconic and while it starts to fumble some of its rules in the end, you certainly can't deny how effective the simple premise is. As things in horror films do, things start to go wrong - shockingly and bloodily so. It leads to a somewhat messy finale that luckily absolutely nails its final frames. 

Sophie Wilde's core performance is pivotal to Talk to Me's success and it feels special here, and she's able to elevate a script that demands a lot of her. Given the emotional backstory of her character, it felt like more than normal lifting duty for many horror protagonists. Other performances range from fine to good, but the other selling point is some on-point filmmaking and a near 90-minute runtime. Talk to Me looks great, features some strong visuals, and is edited (both with sound and cameras) to create a lot of intense, tension-packed moments. Instances of violence shock because the film is not filled with them and it's able to stick on your mind after the credits. My only wish is the original score had been better (or even present) as this could have been something that partnered well with a unique, weird music accompanyment...remember It Follows anyone?

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 8/10