The Philippou brothers’ directorial debut Talk to Me follows a fairly familiar A24 format. On its surface, it sounds like a pretty overused plot, too – playing a supernatural game accidentally invites a malevolent spirit into a host, and possession ensues. But boiling the film down to its basic elements doesn’t do justification to the eerie atmosphere that is at the heart of Talk to Me, nor does it showcase the compelling storytelling that occurs throughout this horrifyingly disquieting tale of grief and loss.
With that said, it’s important to note the encroaching influence (albeit perhaps unknowingly) that Hereditary has on the film. The two share a particular brand of horror – that is, operating with fantastical elements while dealing with disturbing real-life consequences at the forefront. Danny Philippou’s script, co-written by Bill Hinzman and Daley Pearson, paints a particularly effective narrative centered around the film’s main protagonist Mia (Sophie Wilde). Her mother’s suicide still casts a pall on her life two years later, and true to the film’s name, we even get some literal references to the fact that Mia can’t really talk about it with those close to her. The tragic element gives more understanding to the audience when Mia, introduced to a psychic’s disembodied hand, readily accepts a risky bid to first talk to, and then invite in, spirits.
The film moves slowly through these opening moments, featuring a couple of spooky encounters with obviously tortured souls but mostly doing the setup necessary to explore Mia’s need to speak to her dead mother, as well as the complicated relationship she has with her friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen) and her younger brother Riley (Joe Bird). And much like the aforementioned Hereditary, the ultimate crux of Talk to Me is the shockingly brutal possession of young Riley, a powerfully unsettling moment that doesn’t so much scare as it does distress with its realism.
These moments all add up to a unique take on a possession storyline that doesn’t rely on the usual exorcism routines that have proliferated in horror cinema. You won’t see any priests or religion at all, no Catholic incantations; instead, the film uses its internal logic to effectively deal with its demons, resulting in a satisfying, and also surprisingly bleak, conclusion about not being able to manage loss.
While some may want a few more frights out of the Philippous, Talk to Me manages to entertain and disturb in equal measure with excellent mood and tension intermixed with some humor as well. Its simple but distinctive premise presents a twist on a familiar theme, and ultimately this movie should satisfy those looking for a different tale of possession; and honestly, this could very easily have fit well into the Evil Dead canon with just a few modifications. If you’ve waited to see Talk to Me, rectify that situation and let it in.
4K UHD
Lionsgate and A24 have released Talk to Me on 4K UHD alongside a Blu-ray release (please note: there is also a 3-disc Amazon exclusive 4K, but this review is of the standard edition). The film is presented in 4K with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR 10 for non-compatible devices, and honestly it was a great decision from Lionsgate to dual-release the UHD with Blu-ray when other companies are hesitant to do so. Here, the UHD really shines with impressive detail, sharp textures, and an overall clean presentation. Of course that is also true of the Blu-ray, but the Dolby Vision HDR makes the UHD stand on its own thanks to its representation of Talk to Me‘s various darkened sequences. Note the last few minutes of the film which sports expressive deep blacks on the UHD disc. Overall, the presentation is near-perfect without any noticeable compression artifacts or other digital noise.
Audio on both discs is a Dolby Atmos 7.1 track, which contains a number of great sound effects well-rendered by the enveloping Atmos technology. While the film is relatively quiet, its tension is often enhanced by background sounds and environmental noises, all mixed to great effect here. My only complaint is a relatively quiet dialogue track, but by all accounts most watchers will have the sound turned up for the atmosphere anyway. English and Spanish subtitles are included.
For extras, both discs provide the same features. The main draw here is a new audio commentary with Danny and Michael Philippou, both of whom contribute a nice conversational tone to the film explaining a lot of behind-the-scenes detail throughout. Another new EPK-style featurette called “In the Grip of Terror” where cast and crew are interviewed and discuss the appeal of the film. Deleted scenes are included with various minute details added; some are in fact extended. Also included is a theatrical trailer.
Extra Features
- NEW Audio Commentary with Writers / Directors Danny and Michael Philippou
- NEW In the Grip of Terror (1080p; 13:28)
- NEW Deleted Scenes (1080p; 6:54)
- Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 2:03)
Verdict
Talk to Me looks great on 4K UHD and the movie is an excellent take on possession horror; while it is a bit light on extras, its short featurette and full-length directors’ commentary makes it a worthwhile physical copy to own, only excluding a Q&A session on the Amazon exclusive version.
