Horror movies are tricky; I think it's difficult for a lot of horror filmmakers to try to scare the audience while also telling a compelling story, using brilliant special effects and techniques, and avoiding all of the many horror movie cliches. This difficulty often leads to modern-day horror films being absolutely torn apart by critics. It feels like every few years, a horror film overcomes all of these hurdles, leaving me speechless. Recent films that come to mind for me are Barbarian, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Nope, The Black Phone, and X. The Philippou brothers' directorial debut film, Talk to Me, has definitely earned its place alongside these films, and I’m already excited to see what they create next. This movie was a fun and fast-paced experience, giving me multiple gory lookaways and jaw-dropping head turns toward my girlfriend. Let’s break the film down.

Talk to Me follows a group of friends that summon and interact with spirits using an embalmed hand. The group has the time of their lives playing with the hand and filming each other's possessed escapades until things go off the rails. The film mostly centers around Mia, played by the talented Sophie Wilde (she steals the show). Mia is somewhat of an outcast within the friend group, throughout the film we learn a lot about some of the struggles she faces and how she deals with loneliness.

This film is one of my favorite horror films of the year. I found it very intelligent thematically, exploring themes of loneliness and peer pressure, as well as the joy that comes from letting others in. Mia, an outcast seeking support, is a compelling character. Conceptually, the film offers a unique twist on the Ouija board, presenting a more horrifying and visually accessible game. Lastly, the film's story structure and runtime were perfect. As you watch the film, you laugh with the characters, but you can sense that they will soon poke the bear.

The film perfectly captures what it's like to be young and stupid. So many other films have a horrible grasp of what teenagers are like. For instance, when the teens get a chance to have an unsupervised party, it's a smaller, tight-knit group that gets together rather than a full-blown rager. The outfits, the use of social media, the filming, and the peer pressure - the dialogue, everything was so spot on. This shouldn't be a coincidence; the Philippou brothers are both still very young, and they are both very social media savvy.

The editing in this film is top-notch. Any scene involving a possession with the hand was masterfully executed and smooth. The camera movement when their heads snap back and the cuts between gripping the hand and seeing the dead people were some of the coolest things I've watched, despite the practical simplicity.

I'll admit, the biggest weakness for me was the strength of any character outside of Mia and Riley (played by Joe Bird). Their love for each other felt so real. The rest of the characters' performances were unmemorable. Additionally, I believe the film, while very narrative-focused, could've explored a few more horrific scenes. At times, it was a bit slow, and I found myself waiting for that next big scare only to be slightly disappointed.

All in all, the future of horror is in incredible hands for as long as the Philippou brothers continue to make films, and I am really hoping they do. I would say, even if you do not enjoy supernatural-based horror, the narrative, world-building, and creative editing are worth giving the film a chance. If you enjoyed this film analysis, follow me on Letterboxd and we can connect.