Talk to Me Review – Possession is the new kick
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Move over alcohol, drugs, violent video games, and kinky sex, the teens in Australian horror film “Talk to Me” have a new kick they cannot get enough of – demonic possession.
Directed by brothers Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou, the film follows a group of friends who become hooked on using an embalmed hand to summon spirits that enter their bodies for a few minutes. This out-of-body experience comes with strict rules, and when one of them goes too far, things get far too out of hand.
Danny Philippou has co-written the story for “Talk to Me” with Bill Hinzman and Daley Pearson, spinning a fresh modern day tale of haunting in the times of social media. Sophie Wilde plays primary protagonist Mia, who spends most of her time at best-friend Jade’s place (Alexandra Jensen) and is still struggling to come to terms with her mother’s death. Mia goads Jade into going to a seance party where an embalmed hand is used to talk to ghosts. The youngsters keep hosting these supernatural parties and in one such get-together, Mia lets Jade’s younger brother Riley (Joe Bird) use the hand, when Jade isn’t around and the boy is overpowered by the spirit, leading to terrible consequences.
I like how the film lulls you into its leisurely paced world of teenagers getting high on a bizarre new thrill, it all seems fun and games, until it isn’t. “Talk to Me” unfolds like a spurious drug, which gives its users a high at first and then just goes for the kill. Sophie Wilde as the insecure, attention-seeking Mia is a train-wreck, which is meant as a compliment, because Wilde subtly captures all the nuances of being a troubled teenager. Mia starts off as a likable dependable friend, who watches out for Riley, when his own sister doesn’t, but she is also a big people-pleaser and gives in to easily to the whims and fancies to those around her, just to be be likes. Red Flag.
The cinematography in “Talk to Me” offers an intriguing blend of a indie teen drama and a disturbing thriller. Striking a good balance between day and night scenes, the creators commendably avoid overusing jump scares and dimly lit shots to establish the horror ambiance. Even the background score consists more of ambient sounds than songs, which helps set the eerie atmosphere. For example, one of the first spirits to appear in the story is that of a woman who appears to have drowned to her death, so you often hear the sound of water in the background.
With a 95 minute runtime, “Talk to Me” is crisp, even though it seems to meander a bit in between, focusing on a character’s personal struggle, which feels like a digression at first, but makes more sense in the second-half. The Philippou brothers cleverly bring the story a full-circle at the end, which is foreshadowed well by the developments in the plot and will leave most viewers satisfied with the climax!
Watch “Talk to Me” on Prime Video (India) or rent it on YouTube.
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