Talk to Me (2023)

[Boccaccio]

This was pretty good. I really liked it.
Good performances all around and a good story.
Was also surprised to see this was an Australian movie. Didn't know that.
This pretty much came out of nowhere for me.
Will definitely buy this on disc.

8/10

[TheSweetieMan]

This film epitomizes everything mediocre about modern day horror. And not that Rotten Tomatoes has much of a reputation left, but the overwhelming critical acclaim for this film is a bit surprising.

It's not terrible. But it's also not great. Just average.

A production like this, as well as something like 'Bodies Bodies Bodies', also continues to show why A24 is no longer an automatic for intellectually stimulating horror productions. I really wish they would stick to their higher standards of productions like 'The Witch', 'Hereditary', and 'Pearl'.

This film is not too different from something you'd get from Blumhouse. Which is basically the beacon of average horror filmmaking these days.

Also, and I know this will sound terribly superficial and shallow -- but the main lead in this film is one of the most unattractive human beings I've seen in a while. She looked like Lori Lightfoot. Like Beetlejuice. Very hard to look at.

There was nothing scary about the film. Or interesting for that matter. Pretty standard ghost shlock, with no interesting set pieces or sequences that stay with you. Again, not to the standard of say the third act of 'Hereditary'. Just really, really basic filmmaking that will have you checking the time on your iPhone.

Not surprised it's getting a sequel considering the box office numbers. But I will definitely be skipping it.

[HorrorBlu]

I'm seeing that song (you know the one) all over TikTok lately, and I can't figure out if it caught on because of this movie, or if this movie used it because it was all over TikTok and I missed it before.

[Sage00]

Just watched it. It started out really strong. The scene

[Show spoiler]where Riley gets injured was very disturbing, along with the other scene where he came to and bit his sister’s hand

The second half was weaker, and it got to be predictable. I realize that Mia is a flawed character, but I found her very unlikeable. I guess that was kinda the point. Overall solid premise, but fizzled to a okay ending.

[StarWarsIsAwesome123]

I haven't felt this unnerved watching a horror film in quite some time. As someone who used to watch RackaRacka videos, this is a pretty impressive feature directorial debut from these guys. The concept is a unique spin on the possession movie, it manages to be constantly tense and chilling without throwing in non-stop jump scares, the performances are generally on point, the direction and cinematography are highly impressive, and there's some real neat practical effects usage. The movie has a real edge to it and rarely lets up once it gets going, it isn't for the faint of heart. I don't have many gripes other than that the characters can be a little obnoxious occasionally, otherwise a very good horror film. I'm definitely interested in seeing what this duo directs next. 8/10

[LanceL]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

The most unrealistic part of this movie was the dad not only surviving being stabbed in the jugular and losing who knows how much blood over the course of time it took for Jade to get an ambulance to him, but also him just walking out the hospital seemingly just a few hours later.

That wasn't a few hours later. It was likely months later, as you see Riley recovering in that time, which would have taken a very long time to happen. Mia is going through limbo and time seems to flow differently. And some have said that her dad was not alive, but the going up highlighted on the elevator seems to make it that he's going to heaven. And she stays in limbo/purgatory.

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

It was fine but there seemed to be a lot of excitement and praise for it. What I felt after was that it was just a basic horror movie aping to be like an A24 film or Hereditary.

The purgatory orgy scene was dope but I wish it built more on that.

I also found that it was breaking its own rules or at least made some things confusing. People tend to rip on It Follows about its rules but that's one I don't mind when people complain about. It's fantastic and I feel like that's the point of its rules.

Could it possibly be that some people really enjoyed it, hence the excitement and praise. Just because you didn't like it, doesn't mean other's opinion and praise wasn't warranted. Besides, the rules are made clear at the start. The rules in It Follows weren't followed through in the actual movie. The rules in Talk To Me were following quite closely. You just have to pay attention. Maybe watch it again.

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

What caught me off guard was how fast they met the spirit. Instantly after saying the words. That first meeting gave me a good jump, but after that, I expected it. It was weird how they kept wanting to be possessed and maybe float out of their body while it was taken over. I guess that is where they felt addicted to it, and the girl kept wanting to repeat it and the whole party theme. Definitely a movie that strongly suggests not to follow the crowd.

The deceased mother, I'm mostly sure that wasn't really her mother when she was talking to her with the hand, because the mother wanted her to kill Riley to no doubt let the evil spirits keep him, not to stop his torment as she suggested. Then when she died, she never saw her mother, only her father get onto an elevator.

I really enjoyed the different take in this movie. And I think you're right about the spirit that kept coming back to Mia. I believe it's been said that the drowned woman who Mia let in was masquerading as her mother. At the end, the ghost of her mother most certainly resembled the drowning woman much more that her mother. I think Riley did conjure up her mother, though, but once Mia locked hands with Riley's, I think her mother went away and the weird old man who Mia's first possession claimed liked Riley took over. The one that didn't like Daniel. That's what I got from YouTube reactions. I also believe that the drowned woman was the ghost that was sucking on Daniel's foot. The ghost looked like the woman possibly from before being drowned. I could be wrong.

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

Maybe a bit, but the supernatural stuff (visions, etc.) were happening in their minds. Not in the real world. Psychological horror.

The flatlining, while tinged with science fiction, is based in reality since a person can flatline and be technically dead and then resuscitated.

I mainly think of supernatural as ghosts, demons, hauntings, possessions, curses, etc.

I think the supernatural elements don't always have to show themselves to others. If you're seeing the ghosts of the past, and it's after you've been in the movie Flatliners, I think it's safe to say it's supernatural.

Originally Posted by jaws3dfan

I totally agree, I enjoyed Talk to me but I didn't care for IT Follows .

I'm pretty sure the person you've replying to didn't like Talk To Me but did like It Follows.

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Multiple generations passed and continents apart, I felt like the kids in this movie acted exactly like my group of friends and I acted at that age.

I felt that the get together and party scenes were written and acted perfectly..

Exactly. Most who didn't like this movie seem to think teens rely on logic instead of impulses. I mean, who here has done something stupid as a teen that you don't think is rational nor logical as an adult? People take these story structures regarding certain characters and add their own logic into the movie and that just doesn't work. I understand not liking the decisions of the teens and the mom in this movie, but that is the point. Much like Halloween Ends, people hated that movie for irritating reasons, too. I keep going back to real life situations. No one makes logical decisions 100% of the time.

Originally Posted by pinballmaster

It Follows is a metaphor for sexual abuse. It's a genius little film that means far more than the surface.

I watched a YouTube video reviewing and explaining the movie. I might want to see if I can find it again. I really don't like It Follows, but I want to understand it.

Originally Posted by pinballmaster

You would have let a demon possess your body at that age?
It wasn't weird to you how nobody really had reservations about it?

Another person who didn't pay attention to the movie. Jade, Mia's friend, had big reservations about it. But go on thinking that your logic makes sense in every situation, and that teenagers wouldn't try to get possessed by a ghost for fun. If a person will take meth, a person would definitely be willing to be possessed. Hence the fact that Ouija boards exist.

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I absolutely love this movie. And having seen RackaRacka skits here on YouTube years ago makes me think that most comedy acts have the mind to make very good, very disturbing horror. I guess that's why I love Halloween Ends and Nope so much. Those directors can take horror and comedy and make something quite good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob0GbuUr8wc&ab_channel=RackaRacka

[John1701D]

This was tough to watch. Very uncomfortable imagery and oppressive dread without a jump scare to be found. If I had seen it earlier it would have made it on my list for best of the year.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by LanceL

[Show spoiler]

That wasn't a few hours later. It was likely months later, as you see Riley recovering in that time, which would have taken a very long time to happen. Mia is going through limbo and time seems to flow differently. And some have said that her dad was not alive, but the going up highlighted on the elevator seems to make it that he's going to heaven. And she stays in limbo/purgatory.




Could it possibly be that some people really enjoyed it, hence the excitement and praise. Just because you didn't like it, doesn't mean other's opinion and praise wasn't warranted. Besides, the rules are made clear at the start. The rules in It Follows weren't followed through in the actual movie. The rules in Talk To Me were following quite closely. You just have to pay attention. Maybe watch it again.




I really enjoyed the different take in this movie. And I think you're right about the spirit that kept coming back to Mia. I believe it's been said that the drowned woman who Mia let in was masquerading as her mother. At the end, the ghost of her mother most certainly resembled the drowning woman much more that her mother. I think Riley did conjure up her mother, though, but once Mia locked hands with Riley's, I think her mother went away and the weird old man who Mia's first possession claimed liked Riley took over. The one that didn't like Daniel. That's what I got from YouTube reactions. I also believe that the drowned woman was the ghost that was sucking on Daniel's foot. The ghost looked like the woman possibly from before being drowned. I could be wrong.




I think the supernatural elements don't always have to show themselves to others. If you're seeing the ghosts of the past, and it's after you've been in the movie Flatliners, I think it's safe to say it's supernatural.




I'm pretty sure the person you've replying to didn't like Talk To Me but did like It Follows.





Exactly. Most who didn't like this movie seem to think teens rely on logic instead of impulses. I mean, who here has done something stupid as a teen that you don't think is rational nor logical as an adult? People take these story structures regarding certain characters and add their own logic into the movie and that just doesn't work. I understand not liking the decisions of the teens and the mom in this movie, but that is the point. Much like Halloween Ends, people hated that movie for irritating reasons, too. I keep going back to real life situations. No one makes logical decisions 100% of the time.




I watched a YouTube video reviewing and explaining the movie. I might want to see if I can find it again. I really don't like It Follows, but I want to understand it.





Another person who didn't pay attention to the movie. Jade, Mia's friend, had big reservations about it. But go on thinking that your logic makes sense in every situation, and that teenagers wouldn't try to get possessed by a ghost for fun. If a person will take meth, a person would definitely be willing to be possessed. Hence the fact that Ouija boards exist.

[Show spoiler]
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I absolutely love this movie. And having seen RackaRacka skits here on YouTube years ago makes me think that most comedy acts have the mind to make very good, very disturbing horror. I guess that's why I love Halloween Ends and Nope so much. Those directors can take horror and comedy and make something quite good.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob0G...nel=RackaRacka

Meh. The movie sucks. Done.

[LanceL]

Originally Posted by John1701D

This was tough to watch. Very uncomfortable imagery and oppressive dread without a jump scare to be found. If I had seen it earlier it would have made it on my list for best of the year.

Spoilers

The first ghost you see is a jump scare.

[LanceL]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Meh. The movie sucks. Done.

Thank you for your opinion. I have my own.

[John1701D]

Originally Posted by LanceL

Spoilers

The first ghost you see is a jump scare.

[Lacit170]

watched this last night and enjoyed it. not the greatest movie in the world but definitely entertaining. 3.5/5

i did have one question though that i didnt see brought up in the thread. so, the obvious question of whether or not the ghost mother was really her mother or not. so by the end, it leads us to believe that it is NOT her mother and that is the reason she walks into the roads; right? she no longer believes its her mother either.... so, if we are led to believe that, then why did the ghost mother tell her that the dad banging on her door was not her real dad and to not let him in?

one instance she seems to be doing the right thing but then in the end tries tricking her into killing Riley.

[Frank TJ Mackey]

Really enjoyed this one from the Philippou Brothers as well. Scary and intense. I hope they do a sequel

[javy]

When Talk To Me was announced I viewed the trailer several times. I wasn't getting the vibe that it's a good movie, so I passed. With Bring Her Back also receiving stellar reviews, I decided to go ahead and give the 2022 film a watch.

My initial feeling was accurate. The characters are unlikable and the story unbelievable. I don't believe any group of people would cheerfully react the way they did to an inanimate object opening a door to the world of supernatural phenomenon and possession.

I like A24 films. The Witch and A Ghost Story are amazing films. Talk to Me, not so much. Honestly, I would say it's a pretty stupid movie from start to finish. I'll still give Bring Her Back a try. Maybe it's better.

[Frank TJ Mackey]

I thought Bring Her Back blew Talk To Me away. and I enjoyed Talk to Me

[javy]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

And how

[Show spoiler]Jade was able to get back to the hospital in time to see Mia kill herself.

Also thought it was weird

[Show spoiler]that Sue so easily forgave Mia yet we never see her hug her daughter and forgive her. That scene gave me the impression that it was in Mia's head yet it wasn't if we go by the movie's logic.

[Show spoiler]And then there's the sister who blamed Mia for her brother. As if she didn't leave the party, giving the impression of 'f* it, do what you wanna do'.

Poorly written. I don't understand all the positive reviews.

[LanceL]

Originally Posted by javy

I like A24 films. The Witch and A Ghost Story are amazing films.

A Ghost Story. Is that with Roony Mara eating a pie for five to ten minutes? Yeah, I didn't understand that movie.

There are so many movies that have unbelievable stories and how people act. The teens in this movie are basically your typical teens. With the idea of the hand being a portal, basically a drug, kids are going to keep doing it until it ends them. That's exactly how people react to drugs, so the only unbelievable part is the supernatural distinction. However, there are those who believe in the supernatural. And if someone can find a way to make an escape out of it, the only thing I find unreal is that they didn't charge for each "session" with the hand. People tend to pay a lot of money to zone out and get stoned. Even the richest people in the world do that.

If you look into it, Friend of the Family, it's on Peacock. The actual story behind that series is far darker and much more unbelievable. When someone mentions how unbelievable Halloween Ends is, I point to that series and the documentary behind it. But, the way many people react to that, much like the Deadpit Radio guys on YouTube, certain attitudes can't comprehend how unbelievable people do, in fact, act.

Geez, don't get me started. Elisabeth Fritzl. If you want unbelievable, look into that tragedy. It's awful enough to make a grown man cry. I wouldn't call myself a grown man, despite my age.

I think I already added my thoughts on this movie, so I will just leave it at that.