When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. A film by Danny and Michael Philippou, starring Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, and Miranda Otto.
TALK TO ME
Danny Philippou • Michael Philippou
(2023)
The opening scene is captivating and shocking. Cole (Ari McCarthy) searches for his brother Duckett (Sunny Johnson) at a crowded house party. Duckett appears disturbed and is mumbling about their deceased father. The teenagers at the party pull out their phones to record Duckett. Suddenly, Duckett stabs Cole with a knife before stabbing himself in the face. The scene is reminiscent of the opening scene of SCREAM, which foreshadows the violence and suspense to come without explicitly giving away the details.
Mia (Sophie Wilde) is still grieving the death of her mother Rhea (Alexandria Steffensen), who passed away two years ago. She is distant from her father Max (Marcus Johnson), believing that he hasn’t told her the whole truth about her mother’s death. Mia often hangs out with her best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen), and takes care of Jade’s younger brother Riley (Joe Bird), whenever Jade is too preoccupied with her phone or other personal matters.
A new social media trend has emerged among teenagers, who believe that they can communicate with the dead through a mysterious embalmed hand. Spectators record and upload videos of the ritual, which has become increasingly popular in recent months.
The use of a novel method of summoning spirits, rather than the traditional ouija board, is a brilliant move. This allows the creators to establish new rules and construct a world around those rules, which generates suspense and may potentially take the audience off guard since they are unaware of what to anticipate.
The rules of the ritual are simple. The person must be restrained before the ritual begins, so that they cannot take the hand and run away or harm others. A candle must be lit to open the door to the other side. The person must hold the embalmed hand and say, “Talk to me,” to allow them to communicate with a spirit. They must then say, “I let you in,” to allow the spirit to possess them, but for no more than 90 seconds. Once the time is up, the person must let go of the embalmed hand (often with force) and the candle must be extinguished to close the door.
Without spoiling anything too much. In this kind of horror genre, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Mia breaks the rules when she witnesses her late mother’s spirit possess a boy. She must now face the grave consequences of her actions.
There are several memorable scenes that are rare to find in horror films. The realistic, gruesome blood-soaked wounds are also effective in creating a sense of unease and suspense. The sound design is also top-notch, with subtle noises that can creep into your even without the use of jump scares. The cast is also great, with Sophie Wilde giving a standout performance in the lead role. The twisted ending is disturbingly horrifying.
Written and directed by Australian twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, known professionally as RackaRacka, “Talk to Me” marks their impressive directorial debut in feature films. The Philippou brothers, already renowned for their YouTube channel’s blend of horror and comedy, bring their expertise in visual effects and storytelling to the big screen. Their transition from viral video creators to feature film directors showcases their ability to craft a compelling narrative on a larger scale.
Danny and Michael Philippou, known collectively as RackaRacka, are Australian twin filmmakers, YouTubers, and stunt performers. They gained fame for their unique blend of horror and comedy in their YouTube videos, which feature elaborate stunts and special effects. Their YouTube channel was created in 2013 and has since gained a massive following, with their video “Harry Potter VS Star Wars,” released in 2014, attracting over 7 million views within one week and over 34 million views to date. Their channel has amassed over 6.74 million subscribers and has won several prestigious awards, including the Best International Channel at the Streamy Awards and the AACTA Award for Best Web Show.
TALK TO ME stands out in the crowded horror genre with its innovative approach to the familiar theme of communicating with the dead. The film’s striking visual effects, a hallmark of the Philippou brothers’ work, elevate the supernatural elements to new heights of terror and realism.
The Philippou brothers’ knack for engaging storytelling, honed through years of creating viral content, translates seamlessly to this longer format. They weave a taut, suspenseful narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, proving that a strong concept, when executed with finesse, can breathe new life into well-worn horror tropes.
TALK TO ME premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022, and at Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2023. it was theatrically released in the United States on 28 July, by A24. The film grossed over $88.5 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget.
