Talk To Me

Daniel and Micheal Philippou AKA TheRackaRacka were my favorite content creators on YouTube. I remember watching their short and hilarious films on YouTube every day. Their distinct and unique style of filming was what kept me following them. "Talk To Me" marks their first directorial debut and I couldn't be any happier for them! "Talk To Me" follows a group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.

I am a big fan of horror and when it comes to the writing in this genre, I always lower my expectations. Thankfully, The Philippou brothers blew it out of the water here. I was extremely surprised by how good the story was as someone who went completely blind into the film. It's also worth mentioning that I love it when horror films incorporate the element of grief into their story. It definitely added to my enjoyment here and elevated the whole experience. Moreover, I loved the simplicity of the idea and the Philippou brothers' direction here. It's one of the best directorial debuts I've seen in recent years and I couldn't be any happier for them. They are masters at their craft and have some great creative minds. On that thought, I cannot wait to see their next film which is an adaptation of the critically acclaimed video game Street Fighter since most of their YouTube videos revolved around fighting. They have a certain flair in their direction when it comes to fighting and that's perhaps the biggest letdown from this film. It was missing some of their personal touch but I am satisfied with the end result. The writing was overall excellent so was the comedy which wasn't a surprise to me. 

What was a surprise here was how scary the film felt! It's not a horror film that tries to scare you with its cheap jumpscares or its lame ideas but a film that slowly makes you terrified the more you watch and think about it. Additionally, the grounded idea and the spine-chilling events that took place in the film made me unsettled. The sense of dread and darkness in the film also added to the creepy atmosphere. This film will certainly make you startled and unsettled by the events and I like that. It's been a while since a film tried to scare its audience in this way.  It's scary, it's creepy, and definitely not for the weak-hearted and for the squeamish. Speaking of that, the film is very disturbing at times. The full utilization of the R rating as well as the color palette used and the loud and crazy sound design will make you shit your pants. Last but not least I have to praise that masterful ending! I did not see that coming nor will you. My jaw was on the floor seeing that final frame. It's a brilliant and smart ending that took me by surprise. Furthermore, I would like to praise the performances here. Sophie Wilde did a phenomenal job here. She portrayed her character perfectly so did the rest of the cast. 

Finally, considering that this film is an Indie film, The Philippou brothers make effective use of the limited 4.5 million Australian dollars budget. The use of practical effects here and the minimal use of CG added a superb level of immersion here never seen in a horror film like this which makes "Talk To Me" the best horror film of the year and one of my favorites film of the year. It's smart, excellently directed, and terrifyingly good. If you're looking for a superb horror to watch at the theater then "Talk To Me" is the perfect watch.