Talk to Me | SXSW 2023 Film Review

In horror, high concepts are as frequent as cats trapped in cupboards (which brings to mind: why are so many felines finding themselves locked away?). Far too many auteurs believe if they just think far outside the box and toss a bit of blood on the screen, then BAM! They’ll have a hit. It rarely works that way, as the cleverest setup still requires skill and precision to deliver. Thankfully, Talk to Me has both.

Sophie Wilde is Mia, a young woman still grappling with the sudden death of her mother from a few years prior. Mia has grown distant from her father and has instead leaned heavily into the family of her best friend, Jade (Alexandra Jensen). This consists of Jade’s mother, Sue (a fierce Miranda Otto), and brother, Riley (an impressive Joe Bird). They have truly taken Mia into their home, though that familiar relationship is about to be put to the ultimate test.

One night, Mia and Jade sneak out to a party where all the cool kids begin playing party games with a dismembered hand. The trick is that if you say the words “talk to me”, a spirit will appear directly across from you. Then if you welcome it inside, for a short period you will be possessed by this spirit while your friends record your every embarrassment. It’s a euphoric high of sorts, and everyone wants to play. At first you might believe this is absolute nonsense, no one would ever do this. But if you have spent more than five minutes perusing TikTok, you just know people would be all over this.

The addiction worsens, and before you know it, Mia’s mother enters the mix, and everything begins to spiral out of control. Anything further would veer into spoiler territory, but rest assured there are plenty of twists and turns as to where this story is headed.

Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman’s script is stacked with creative ideas, and most importantly riffs off of the ever-present need for young adults to feel a rush. Whether it’s a Tide Pod Challenge or stealing a Kia, the need for kids to chase those highs are always going to be with us, and toying with demonic forces seems apropos for the modern generation.

Talk to Me is the feature debut from YouTube artists Danny and Michael Philippou, and it is a most impressive one. From the opening minutes of the pulse-pounding oner where we first witness the results of talking to the hand, this film feels assuredly in its design and flow. Immediately from the get-go, the atmosphere is ominous, and the audience is unnerved until the haunting final frames. Sure, there are ebbs and flows where logic has to hold tight for the narrative to cruise along, plus a quick cut or a jump scare now and again, but the sheer confidence Danny and Michael show as they commit to their insane premise and see it through is admirable.

The other ace up the Philippou’s sleeve is Sophie Wilde. Mia is our shepherd through the darkness as Wilde demonstrates a very flawed young woman who has been tortured by grief and the unknown. There are numerous moments throughout the film where our loyalty to Mia is tested, and Wilde’s powerful performance holds us close and keeps us hopeful for a rosy outcome. One we know is unlikely to arise. Is Mia going insane? Has she had a psychological break? Wilde delivers a wondrous characterization of the pitfalls of grief, which deserves to be praised.

Talk to Me is a high-concept horror film that works. The assuredness of directors Danny and Michael Philippou in their film proves they are directors to watch in the coming years. Horror and film in general need filmmakers that believe this devotedly in their own work, and I cannot wait to see what they offer next.

Listen to our full review of Talk to Me on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: