Review of Talk to Me (2023) by Ltts_Kyle — 01 Aug 2023

(Spoiler-free) Thoughts on Talk to Me:

A24's track record for horror films lately is, if nothing else, consistently intriguing. From the more traditional fare of Hereditary to the mystery comedy spooks of Bodies Bodies Bodies, they're not afraid to bet high on interesting, wacky, artful concepts. Even if you hate every A24 horror so far, they deserve props for taking risks, something a lot of bigger companies are afraid to do (Disney *cough*).

Talk to Me is the latest venture that goes back to a somewhat traditional horror style while still feeling fresh and inventive. I'd say Talk to Me has just about everything you could want in a horror feature: scares, violence, a consistent feeling of uneasiness, moments you want to look away and moments you can't stop watching, suspense, and just the right sprinkle of humor.

At its core, Talk to Me is a story about grief and the desperation for closure - something that can fester and take hold when you refuse to let go. This theme is presented masterfully throughout the movie, but it never feels like the whole story is simply an allegory or metaphor; rather, it puts a fun spin on the "I see dead people" sub-genre of horror, giving believable reasons for why some characters act the way they do. Thinking back on it, there are plenty of little clues as to what's happening, so if you're one of those people who hates ambiguous endings, you'll be happy to hear that this ends pretty definitively. Certain rules are set in place and followed, making this universe feel real and grounded.

And speaking of grounded, the characters are feel like real people too. There were moments originally that I disliked because it just felt like another movie where characters make dumb decisions (the classic horror trope), but I realized that most of them acted within their character's logic. The story doesn't dive too deeply into most of the people we meet, leaving them feeling a little two-dimensional but they serve their purpose with glimmers of someone you'd want to know more about. At its core, Talk to Me is a study of the main protagonist, Mia - and what consequences befall her as a result of her grief. There's just enough humor to make everyone seem like real people you'd encounter, and this serves to heighten your investment in their story. Despite not having a ton of depth, I'm glad they never just felt like background players.

Talk to Me can be a hard watch for those suffering with the loss of a loved one, or anyone with existential terror of the afterlife in general - but that's what makes a horror movie good. If it can leave you thinking about it after the credits roll, it's done its job and Talk to Me more than does so. It excels at balancing so many moving parts so it never feels boring or predictable; with an incredible performance from Sophie Wilde anchoring the story. It has its jump scare moments but they feel earned and never gratuitous; the true terror comes from the stress of seeing events unfold and how they'll be resolved.

All in all, Talk to Me is one of the best horror movies I've seen in recent years, maybe ever. It's gripping, unique, well acted, and terrifying - with a message that never feels like it's pandering but still very clear. It also doesn't overstay its welcome, unlike some of the ghoulies we see - and ends up being a perfectly wrapped horror package without the need for a sequel, prequel, or any sort of over-analysis. If you like your spooky movies with a hint of existential dread, this is a movie you'll want to let in.