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Talk to Me
Co-directors and co-screenwriters Michael and Danny Philippou scores with 2023's Talk to Me, a creepy Australian psychological thriller that borrows small elements from other classic thrillers but stands on its own with a story that had my stomach in knots and had me jumping out of my chair half a dozen times.
The film follows a small group of friends who have discovered a new and disturbing new party game involving a disembodied hand, which apparently belonged to a medium. After lighting a candle, a person grabs the hand and says, "talk to me" and a spirit appears before them. Of course, one girl named Mia takes things too far and watches her BFF's little brother get seriously injured before they start coming after her.
The Philippou brothers immediately amps the squirm on this story by having these kids being amused by what starts happening with this hand. The way that they treat something deadly serious like a drinking game produces immediate tension for the viewer because there's nothing funny about what happens when people do this, not to mention we have seen a murder suicide at the beginning of the film that isn't immediately explained, so we're pretty sure that a connection is coming down the pike.
Impressive was the way the story seemed to be setting up Mia's BFF Jade as the one in trouble but the danger shifts to Mia before we even realize it's happening. Philippou doesn't allow us to think about what' going, thanks to an economic running time and an undeniable talent for the immediate "boo" that doesn't provide instant explanation, but elements of classic thrillers like The Exorcist and The Omen do help to clarify up to a point where we do start looking for an "And then I woke up" scene.
The Philippou's direction is stark and unapologetic and gets a strong assist from film editor Geoff Lamb. Sophia Wilde's performance as Mia becomes an effective anchor to the proceedings, making the viewer genuine terrified for her. Something tells me this film will become richer with a rewatch or two.
Co-directors and co-screenwriters Michael and Danny Philippou scores with 2023's Talk to Me, a creepy Australian psychological thriller that borrows small elements from other classic thrillers but stands on its own with a story that had my stomach in knots and had me jumping out of my chair half a dozen times.
The film follows a small group of friends who have discovered a new and disturbing new party game involving a disembodied hand, which apparently belonged to a medium. After lighting a candle, a person grabs the hand and says, "talk to me" and a spirit appears before them. Of course, one girl named Mia takes things too far and watches her BFF's little brother get seriously injured before they start coming after her.
The Philippou brothers immediately amps the squirm on this story by having these kids being amused by what starts happening with this hand. The way that they treat something deadly serious like a drinking game produces immediate tension for the viewer because there's nothing funny about what happens when people do this, not to mention we have seen a murder suicide at the beginning of the film that isn't immediately explained, so we're pretty sure that a connection is coming down the pike.
Impressive was the way the story seemed to be setting up Mia's BFF Jade as the one in trouble but the danger shifts to Mia before we even realize it's happening. Philippou doesn't allow us to think about what' going, thanks to an economic running time and an undeniable talent for the immediate "boo" that doesn't provide instant explanation, but elements of classic thrillers like The Exorcist and The Omen do help to clarify up to a point where we do start looking for an "And then I woke up" scene.
The Philippou's direction is stark and unapologetic and gets a strong assist from film editor Geoff Lamb. Sophia Wilde's performance as Mia becomes an effective anchor to the proceedings, making the viewer genuine terrified for her. Something tells me this film will become richer with a rewatch or two.