“Talk To Me:” Horror meets reality
“Talk To Me” is a film that works the horror genre masterfully in order to create a chilling experience that doesn’t seem that far off from reality.
Horror meets reality with A24’s latest hit, “Talk To Me.” Released on July 27, this movie has received stellar reviews from critics and fans alike, as well as grossing over $67 million on a budget of $4.5 million. There is no doubt that A24 is continuing its trend of bringing great movies to the casual moviegoer’s attention.
A24 is a movie distribution company that has been making waves in the movie industry over the past few years. While known for horror movies such as “Midsommar” and “The Lighthouse,” A24 has distributed an extensive array of indie films like “Moonlight” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” that have gone on to win many awards.
“Talk To Me” was the directorial debut of Danny and Michael Philippou. These twin brothers began their career on YouTube with their channel RackaRacka, where they made horror comedy short films. They amassed a huge following on this platform.
The movie follows two friends, Mia (Sophie Wilde) and Jade (Alexandra Jensen), when they go to a party and find that their group of friends is using a strange embalmed hand to communicate with the dead. When using the hand, they can also allow themselves to be possessed, giving the one possessed a feeling of excitement and euphoria. But there is a catch; if they allow the spirit to possess them for longer than ninety seconds, it binds itself to the host. You can see where this is going.
Full of gripping storytelling and scream-inducing scares, “Talk To Me” doesn’t just manage to be a wild ride but also conveys a deep and insightful message that will leave viewers stunned by the end. Beyond that, there is a feeling of authenticity to this film that makes its strange concept seem not too far from reality.
Combined with the shocking practical effects (no doubt influenced by the Philippou brothers’ YouTube channel) and the phenomenal performances, “Talk To Me” will no doubt go down as the best horror movie of the year. It will leave viewers with a profound sense of terror long after the credits roll.
Chase Martin is a Senior at Utah Valley University studying English with an emphasis on Creative Writing.