Blu-ray Review: TALK TO ME Is A Gripping Horror Film – In More Ways Than One!
Danny and Michael Philippou’s Talk To Me is an astute film debut from the directing brothers. It’s a mean, lean piece of Aussie genre filmmaking that knows precisely when to shock and when to sucker punch the emotions. It’s a grisly ride—and like the best horror, it refuses to let go even after the credits roll. It uses the concept of possession as a drug-like phenomenon, where the characters are chasing something far worse than a dragon.
Talk To Me follows a group of teens who discover an embalmed hand that gives them access to the spirit world. As is often the case with such stories, the rush of flirting with the supernatural spirals into dark and dangerous obsession. Former YouTube stars, the Philippous infuse this horror with their special brand of kinetic energy, unleashing a grip on tension that rarely lets up.
At the centre is a strong cast who deliver performances that transcend the film’s genre leanings. Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, and Joe Bird give compelling portrayals. They capture the naivety of being teenagers while also selling the scares and the more far-fetched elements of the plot—of which there are many. Meanwhile, Miranda Otto adds a bit of grown-up gravitas as the mother of Alexandra Jensen’s character. For a pair of online video pranksters, the Philippou boys sure know how to get the best out of their actors.
Strong characterisation sets the scene in Danny and Michael Philippou’s tense horror, Talk To Me. It’s scary and violent when it needs to be, making for a well-balanced and strongly acted genre piece. Fresh, bold and original, it shows the sky’s the limit for this film-making duo from Down Under.
Special Features
This release of Talk To Me is by the aptly named Second Sight Films, which means you get serious bang for your buck on the special features front.
You get two commentaries (one with directors Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou), interviews with the Philippous, producer Samantha Jennings, and cinematographer Aaron McLisky.
The Blu-ray also has deleted scenes, cast interviews, a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a video essay by Kat Ellinger.
