Talk to Me movie storyline. A young man, Cole, stumbles through a crowded house party as he attempts to locate his brother Duckett, who has locked himself in a bedroom. Cole breaks down the door and retrieves an injured Duckett, before taking him into the living room where Duckett stabs his brother in the chest and then himself in the face, killing himself in front of the party-goers.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Mia is struggling with the second anniversary of her mother Rhea’s suicide and her distant relationship with her father, Max. Mia, her best friend Jade and Jade’s little brother Riley sneak out to a house party hosted by Hayley and Joss where the main attraction is the severed, embalmed hand of a powerful medium, which they use to conjure spirits by lighting a candle and saying the phrase “talk to me,” before proceeding to say “I let you in” for full possession, and blowing out the candle once ninety seconds has passed. Mia volunteers to go first, and is possessed by a spirit that threatens Riley before Joss and Hayley rip the hand away and blow out the candle, bringing Mia back to her normal self.
Mia, ecstatic over the feeling the hand brought her, along with Hayley, Joss and Jade’s boyfriend Daniel all gather at Jade’s house the next night, where Riley volunteers to play the game, only to be possessed by Rhea’s spirit, who attempts to reconcile with Mia. The time limit is exceeded and Riley’s body is overtaken by the spirits, repeatedly smashing his face against the table and causing him to be hospitalized.
Mia, now haunted by visions of Rhea, is turned away by Jade and her mother Sue, who blame her for Riley’s injuries. Seeking comfort from Daniel, Mia invites him to sleep over, but she assaults him after she’s possessed by a spirit, causing Daniel to leave and Mia to realize that the spirits have followed them. Having secretly taken the embalmed hand from Jade’s house, Mia uses it to contact Rhea, who tells her that her death was purely accidental and that she needs to help Riley, who is evidently still possessed after he attacks Jade at the hospital and violently self-harms in front of her.
Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, in their feature film directorial debut. Written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman from a concept by Daley Pearson, it stars Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, and Miranda Otto. It follows a group of teenagers who discover they are able to contact spirits using a mysterious embalmed hand, only for one of them to take things too far.
Talk to Me had its preview screening at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival, followed by its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on 22 January 2023. It was theatrically released in Australia on 27 July 2023 and internationally the following day. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, horror sequences, practical effects, and performances. A sequel is currently in development.
Talk to Me (2023)
Directed by: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Starring: Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson, Alexandria Steffensen, Marcus Johnson, Ari McCarthy, Sunny Johnson
Screenplay by: Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
Production Design by: Bethany Ryan
Cinematography by: Aaron McLisky
Film Editing by: Geoff Lamb
Costume Design by: Anna Cahill
Set Decoration by: Jennifer Drake
Art Direction by: Gareth Wilkes
Music by: Cornel Wilczek
MPAA Rating: R for strong/bloody violent content, some sexual material and language throughout.
Distributed by: A24 Films
Release Date: October 30, 2022 (Adelaide), July 27, 2023 (Australia), July 28, 2023 (United States)
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