Emily Allgair, Editor

Danny and Michael Philippou’s “Talk to Me” tells the story of a ceramic hand that connects people to the spiritual realm and is currently in the possession of a group of Australian teens. Connecting for no longer than 90 seconds, the teens think that they have control over the hand, until Mia (Sophie Wilde) gets her first taste of what the spiritual possession feels like. 

The cinematography of this film was phenomenal. From the camera jolting back with the head of whoever was in the chair to the preciseness of the lighting of each shot, especially when it is raining, every element of image is thought about and it shows. Even down to costume design, every decision surrounding detail is meticulous. Although Mia makes poor decisions, we want her to be okay because of her bright personality – this is reflected in the constant yellow pop of her wardrobe. 

Although phones are a big part of this movie, they are not overused, a refreshing breath from other 21st century stories of teens and their use of social media. The Snapchats and YouTube videos are rarely seen by the audience, and the use of their phones is minimal enough that it feels natural without being unrealistic. 

As for the horror aspects of “Talk to Me,” this movie is gross. Simple as that. You see and hear up close and personal asphyxiation, blood and gore and some extreme sexual moments that touch on fetishes. Although I would not consider this movie to be splatter horror, it definitely does not leave much injury to the imagination. 

The best part of this movie, in my opinion, was its representation of addiction without being extremely heavy-handed in doing so. From Riley’s friend offering him a cigarette early on within the film, to each teen feeling a rush from using the hand, even to not giving Riley the full amount, subtle signs of drug use are alluded to throughout the entire film. As Mia continues to use the hand to feel connected to her mother, she begins impacting the lives of those around her.

Overall, I would recommend this movie, but not just to anyone. If you are looking for jump scares and cheap thrills, this is not the movie for you. There is a lot to stomach in this film, but if you are up for it, it is definitely worth the watch.