Movies with Isaiah: 'Talk to Me' is without a doubt a must-see
Every so often there are cinematic releases prompting the viewer to enter the theater with the lowest of expectations. The trailer for "Talk to Me" brought that very reaction of not expecting anything other than the standard jump-scare affair, mediocre to horrendous acting and cheap computer-generated effects, all of which would create a less than memorable impact.
From my understanding, YouTube creators helmed this specific project dubbed the "RackaRacka Twins" based in Australia. Danny and Michael Philippou have a significant following with their content, and this film was their directorial debut. Saying my expectations were at a modest to low level would have been the understatement of the year.
The premise revolves around a group of friends catching wind of a new viral phenomenon of individuals at parties engaging in a game of holding a severed, embalmed hand and uttering the phrase, "Talk to me," which connects them with spirits on the other side. Each connection is different, giving the audience a perspective of vengeful, lustful and depressing spirits during the séance. Once the session is over, the person who experienced the phenomenon either has a euphoric high or is emotionally and physically damaged.
Over the course of the developing story, the group of friends participating in the game begins experiencing traumatic events including various hauntings, hallucinations and dangerous connections of spirits refusing to vacate their presence. As I previously stated, my expectations regarding this feature were excessively low, and the interest level was lower than low. This film came as a massive surprise as to how different it was to previous horror stories. Taking elements from "The Shining," "Flatliners," "The Sixth Sense," "Jacob's Ladder" and "Mirrors," it managed to create a story of interesting and relatable characters, intense atmosphere and intentionally deviated from the standard jump-scare gimmick fest that plagued supernatural films of the past.
What separates "Talk to Me" from other horror cinematic outings is the focus on atmosphere by building on the intense factor of disturbing acting performances and imagery, utilizing impressive and innovative camera techniques and color schemes mirroring cold, dark and sullen surroundings indicating a chilling sensation with each different haunting.
If this review sounds vague, it is an intentional approach. Anything detailed would immediately give away key scenes and revelations, taking away any of the sincere, organic and atmospheric experience. The highlights are the acting, disturbing imagery, atmosphere, intensity and character development where every character is highly relatable and likeable. Past horror films would have the audience loudly talking at the screen and making light of the trauma, attempting to add levity to the circumstance; however, the Philippou twins created a great balance that only seasoned directors are capable of. Watching this film, I found myself forgetting this is their directorial debut, clearly indicating they have massive promise in the world of cinema.
One scene that had me on edge reminded me of a recurring nightmare during my childhood. I do not want to venture into specifics, as it would give away the totality of the scene. The best way to articulate the description would be to simply say, you will know it when it appears on the silver screen. That is all I can say without getting into spoilers. The horror genre has been a favorite concept of mine since childhood, even more so into my adult years. "Talk to Me" made it to the top of the list as being one of my favorite horror films of all time. Coming from someone like me who has the original "Halloween" from 1978 as my favorite horror film of all time, this presentation will without a doubt become the best of 2023 from the horror genre, and I do not see any other stories of a similar concept coming close under any circumstances.
It is a testament to the talents of the Philippou twins in how they crafted a memorable, haunting and chilling story without relying on gimmicks of the past. I have every intention of viewing this film again and adding it to my DVD collection. Highly recommended for those interested in experiencing a meticulously written and acted feature. I cannot sing enough praises of this film without becoming repetitious.
"Talk to Me" receives a 10/10 and two-thumbs-up final rating. It is not for children with its R-rated format of gruesome violence, disturbing imagery, brief sexual content and profanity. Either way, it is absolutely without a doubt a must see.
To watch Isaiah Ridley's movie reviews online, find him @Izzy's Cinematic Escape on YouTube.