Talk to Me
08/05/2023
Talk to Me will probably be the best horror film of 2023. The other films I have seen and those coming up are not looking very good.
Talk to Me is an Australian horror film produced by A24. The premise is as follows: 'When a group of friends discovers how to conjure spirits by using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill -- until one of them unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.' This may sound derivative or generic, but the film manages to make this a very gripping premise indeed! (Pun intended)
I will be going into my light spoiler thoughts here, but I would recommend going into it blind if you are into horror films.
The film's first act is very bland. It has a cold open that is mostly unrelated to the rest of the film. The rest of the first act has a very slow build-up with characters who don't quite act like they do in the rest of the film. The dialogue is also a bit unrealistic, and I found myself having a hard time getting into the film. In fact, nothing from this part is in the trailer at all. I think the writers wrote the movie and realized it was too short, so they added stuff in. I think it would have been fine if the first act was tightened up a bit.
The whole rest of the film is great, though. It has a consistent tone of dread and tension filled with some silly moments that didn't distract me. I really liked the main character and her relationships with her friends and her father. I was rooting for her the entire time and was really invested. The other characters had great moments where I thought I knew what was going to happen, and I was always kept on my toes.
The horror itself was really good. There is nothing really that new in this, but the execution of a lot of scenes had me glued to the screen. However, it reminds me of other great horror films like 'Hereditary' and 'It Follows.' It also takes elements from 'Truth or Dare' but does them much better! There are many themes about addiction, identity, isolation, and other dark themes. Because there's so much in this film, I might watch it again. The horror and the surrounding themes might be more enjoyable a second time around.
'Talk to Me' is a film I will certainly be thinking about in the coming days. I am unsure how many people besides horror fans would like this, but this is a pretty big recommendation from me!
11/22/2025
You know I just had to watch this again after Shelby Oaks! Here's a quick summary of my last review:
Talk to Me might be the strongest horror film of 2023. (Top 5 of the 2020s for sure so far!) Despite a dull, padded first act with weak dialogue and slow buildup, the rest of the movie is intense, well-executed, and filled with dread. The main character is compelling, her relationships add emotional weight, and the film’s twists keep you guessing. The scares aren’t revolutionary, but they’re handled with precision and evoke the vibes of Hereditary and It Follows. Themes of addiction, identity, and isolation elevate the story, making it worth a second watch.
What a good second watch it was. I gave it an 8.5/10 the first time and I think I would keep it at that. It is a phenomenal and effective horror movie that just so much trauma beneath the surface. Mia is such a great character and I enjoyed the subtle character work a lot more the second time around. I still can't beleive this was made by YouTubers and I am trusting them to make more great movies like this or Bring Her Back! If you have not seen this and like horror, what have you been doing?!
Talk to Me will probably be the best horror film of 2023. The other films I have seen and those coming up are not looking very good.
Talk to Me is an Australian horror film produced by A24. The premise is as follows: 'When a group of friends discovers how to conjure spirits by using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill -- until one of them unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.' This may sound derivative or generic, but the film manages to make this a very gripping premise indeed! (Pun intended)
I will be going into my light spoiler thoughts here, but I would recommend going into it blind if you are into horror films.
The film's first act is very bland. It has a cold open that is mostly unrelated to the rest of the film. The rest of the first act has a very slow build-up with characters who don't quite act like they do in the rest of the film. The dialogue is also a bit unrealistic, and I found myself having a hard time getting into the film. In fact, nothing from this part is in the trailer at all. I think the writers wrote the movie and realized it was too short, so they added stuff in. I think it would have been fine if the first act was tightened up a bit.
The whole rest of the film is great, though. It has a consistent tone of dread and tension filled with some silly moments that didn't distract me. I really liked the main character and her relationships with her friends and her father. I was rooting for her the entire time and was really invested. The other characters had great moments where I thought I knew what was going to happen, and I was always kept on my toes.
The horror itself was really good. There is nothing really that new in this, but the execution of a lot of scenes had me glued to the screen. However, it reminds me of other great horror films like 'Hereditary' and 'It Follows.' It also takes elements from 'Truth or Dare' but does them much better! There are many themes about addiction, identity, isolation, and other dark themes. Because there's so much in this film, I might watch it again. The horror and the surrounding themes might be more enjoyable a second time around.
'Talk to Me' is a film I will certainly be thinking about in the coming days. I am unsure how many people besides horror fans would like this, but this is a pretty big recommendation from me!
11/22/2025
You know I just had to watch this again after Shelby Oaks! Here's a quick summary of my last review:
Talk to Me might be the strongest horror film of 2023. (Top 5 of the 2020s for sure so far!) Despite a dull, padded first act with weak dialogue and slow buildup, the rest of the movie is intense, well-executed, and filled with dread. The main character is compelling, her relationships add emotional weight, and the film’s twists keep you guessing. The scares aren’t revolutionary, but they’re handled with precision and evoke the vibes of Hereditary and It Follows. Themes of addiction, identity, and isolation elevate the story, making it worth a second watch.
What a good second watch it was. I gave it an 8.5/10 the first time and I think I would keep it at that. It is a phenomenal and effective horror movie that just so much trauma beneath the surface. Mia is such a great character and I enjoyed the subtle character work a lot more the second time around. I still can't beleive this was made by YouTubers and I am trusting them to make more great movies like this or Bring Her Back! If you have not seen this and like horror, what have you been doing?!
Mini Review: Talk to Me might be the best horror film of 2023. This Australian A24 production follows a group of friends using an embalmed hand to summon spirits, unleashing terrifying consequences. The first act is slow, with bland dialogue & an unrelated cold open. It felt like unnecessary filler. However, the rest of the movie is fantastic, blending dread, tension, & meaningful themes like addiction & isolation. The main character is compelling, & the execution of familiar horror tropes is outstanding.
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