Talk to Me – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Talk to Me – Hand’s Grip of Loss and Terror

What is it that really … can scare?  From the ominous tone to supernatural archetypes, horror films have varying ways in attempting to frighten the audience.  No matter the technique, if done right … it can be a chilling time.  In this review, I look at the latest horror film.  Within a somber setting, this is terror of the character kind.  Even when convenience holds down part of the journey, Talk to Me is a tale of how fear and grief … can lead to dire results.  

The story follows a group of friends whose curiosity of spirits turns tragic.  With their lives turned upside down, will they survive or fall to the other side.  On the surface, the film’s outline builds upon aspects of characterization within the horror genre.  We come into this tale through a crazed prologue, before being introduced to Mia (Sophie Wilde), a young girl coping with the loss of her mother.  Through conversational techniques and methodical pacing, the first act fleshes out her familial life, friends, and a particular social craze being popularized by the youth in Australia.  With her friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen) and Riley (Joe Bird), they head to a party where this social craze is happening.  The group learns that people are using an embalm hand to communicate with ‘spirits’ from the other side.  Mia’s curiosity leads to an eerie but addicting confrontation.  Once she gets a ‘taste’ of this craze, we move into a second act that begins to meld characterization within supernatural tropes.  The threading of familiarity within thematic aspects of loss, addiction and innocence creates a situation that is authentic but ominous.  The grounded introduction provides a place when the blind of terror starts to take hold, it draws out a visceral nature of intrigue.  Watching Mia (and her friends) get entrapped by the addiction is a two-fold approach that raises the genre while also providing stark social commentary.  This leads to a unique experience, pushing forward with potential … that eventually takes a questionable turn.    

As Mia deals with the consequences of her new addiction, tragedy (new and old) pushes her to the point of delusion.  Each moment turns dire, providing confrontations of the horror kind.  At a thematic crossroads, the journey wavers between Mia’s personal flaws while trying to wrap everything withing tonal impressions, dark visual quips and jump tactics.  Within the typical techniques, it’s the strength of character that grips with a wavering mood.  As certain truths (about the embalm hand) come to light, it leads to a third act of convenience character choices, unexplained plot moments and a lazy use of deux ex machina.  Even with questionable directive choices, it does end within an interesting climax of ambiguity.  Talk to Me is a horror film that strikes fear within the aspect of loss.  If you are a fan of horror, character films or want to see something a bit different, I say check it out.  A fun time at theaters at the right price.

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)