Whether it’s movies such as “Midsommar” or “Pearl,” I’m always excited to discover new horror films from A24. For months leading up to its release, “Talk to Me” received a large amount of praise and hype, with people predicting it to be the studio’s “best horror movie yet.” Though the movie has its unique aspects to stand out, I wouldn’t call this their “best” film.
“Talk to Me” follows a group of friends realizing they can conjure spirits through an embalmed hand. So, like any smart person would do, they begin to push their limits and use the hand for an adrenalized party trick. However, the more the group plays, the more unhinged the spirits temporarily possessing them become — all until one character, Mia (Sophie Wilde), takes it too far and causes detrimental consequences for everyone.
Though I knew I’d eventually watch “Talk to Me” simply because I already enjoyed plenty of movies from the same studio, the concept itself didn’t hook me. I truly could not understand what makes an embalmed hand different from any other horror movie with a possessed object at its center. Even after watching the film, I still don’t believe the general premise of the movie was anything revolutionary. With that being said, “Talk to Me” still stood out in other aspects.
I’ve seen a plethora of horror movies struggle to dig deeper into their characters. It’s often clear who’s meant to be good or bad, whether there’s an actual motive or a random supernatural entity targeting them. Though the movie’s driven by otherworldly powers, “Talk to Me” excels in navigating a balance between natural human emotions and the supernatural sway within them. The audience gets a look into the history of the characters, as their past continues to haunt and plague their mind, spiraling them into insanity.
In addition, the scenes that showcase overlapping moments of reality and imagination offer a grave feeling of vulnerability and discomfort. “Talk to Me” is a movie with few jump scares. Instead, it relies heavily on how unsettling each uncomfortable interaction can make the audience. As someone who doesn’t get disturbed easily, I was tempted to look away because each uncomfortable scene felt like it was going on forever. In fact, my sister and I still talk about different moments that almost felt like too much for us, despite watching the movie weeks ago.
Despite the concept of “Talk to Me” not being the most unique in itself, the film turns an average idea into a thrilling and engaging experience through its unsettling tone and well-developed characters. In terms of a rating, I would give the movie a 7/10.
