Australian YouTubers turned filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou made a statement this summer by releasing a strong directorial debut in the form of the A24-distributed horror movie Talk to Me. A breakout at the Adelaide Film Festival, it received a wide release over the summer and became A24’s second-highest-grossing movie. With a sequel in development and it being spooky season, there’s no better time to check out the Talk to Me 4K and Blu-ray release.
“In the film, Mia (Sophie Wilde) is determined to get a piece of the otherworldly action in order to be distracted on the eve of her mother’s death,” reads the synopsis. “But when her group of friends gathers for another unruly séance with the mysterious embalmed hand that promises a direct line to the spirits, they’re unprepared for the consequences of bending the rules through prolonged contact. As the boundary between worlds collapses and disturbing supernatural visions increasingly haunt Mia, she rushes to undo the horrific damage before it’s irreversible.”
A lot of people really loved Talk to Me when it was released earlier this year, but I didn’t quite fall into that camp. I came away quite impressed by the movie but was let down by the final act, which failed to tie things together and wasn’t as strong as its great middle chapter. That being said, I really enjoyed revisiting the horror movie, which still features one of the year’s best montages — a memorable scene of teenagers getting high not on drugs but through possessions and playing with the supernatural rather than showing it the respect and fear it deserves — and a breakout performance by star Sophie Wilde. It’s also great to watch with friends as seeing their reactions to some of the more intense scenes is just as fun as the film itself.
The Talk to Me 4K release features a nice array of bonus features, which are all available on both the 4K disc and the Blu-ray. The meatiest of them is a commentary track featuring both Philippou brothers discussing the making of the film over its 95-minute runtime. The RackaRacka duo refreshingly don’t go too into the movie’s meaning as they want to leave it up to interpretation but do wind up sharing plenty of behind-the-scenes stories from the production. It’s a really fun listen as the brothers have a natural chemistry and it adds a lot of value to the package.
There’s a great 13-and-a-half minute featurette titled “In the Grip of Terror.” It features interviews with the directors, producer Samantha Jennings, and several of the stars discussing a bit of its themes of addiction and grief, alongside discussing how they tackled the horror genre. Additionally, there are a few deleted scenes, which total 7 minutes and don’t add a ton to the experience, plus the film’s theatrical trailer. Sadly, the prequel isn’t included, although hopefully, we’ll get to see it at some point.
Talk to Me 4K Review: The Final Verdict
Danny and Michael Philippou’s impressive directorial debut holds up upon subsequent viewing and remains one of 2023’s best horror movies. The Talk to Me 4K release is great and packed with worthwhile bonus features, which is nice to see as A24 movies rarely see standard 4K releases (critical standouts like Past Lives and Beau Is Afraid only released on Blu-ray). It’s definitely worth supporting and is coming out just in time for Halloween.
