Talk to Me

Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou and written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, based on a concept by Daley Pearson. It stars Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson, and Alexandria Steffensen. The film follows a group of teenagers who discover they are able to contact spirits using a mysterious embalmed hand, only for things to go too far. Talk to Me premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022, and was released in Australia on 27 July 2023 by Maslow Entertainment. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, direction, horror sequences, practical effects, sound design and performances, with Sophie Wilde and Joe Bird receiving particular praise. It was a box office success, grossing $90 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget, becoming A24's second highest-grossing film. A sequel is currently in development. Plot At a crowded house party, Cole searches for his brother Duckett. When Cole finds Duckett and attempts to bring him home, Duckett stabs his brother before fatally stabbing himself in the face. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Mia is struggling with the second anniversary of her mother Rhea's death by overdose and her distant relationship with her father Max. Driving at night, she comes across a fatally injured kangaroo, but cannot bring herself to put it out of its misery. Mia, her best friend Jade, and Jade's little brother Riley sneak out to one of many gatherings hosted by Hayley and Joss, where the main attraction is a severed, embalmed hand of mysterious origin. Holding the hand and saying "Talk to me" allows a person to communicate with a spirit, followed by saying "I let you in," enabling the spirit to possess them. The connection must be severed before ninety seconds in order to prevent the spirits from binding themselves to that person. Mia volunteers to go first and is possessed by a spirit that displays a menacing focus on Riley. Joss and Hayley manage to break the connection, but only after the time limit is exceeded slightly.