Talk to Me
Teens discover a severed hand that lets them communicate with spirits
The brief
The Philippou brothers turn a simple supernatural premise into genuine nightmare fuel that builds dread through increasingly unhinged teenage decisions rather than cheap jump scares. Sophie Wilde anchors the chaos with raw desperation as grief-stricken Mia, while the film maintains a queasy momentum that makes you want to yell at these kids to just put the damn hand down. The possession sequences feel disturbingly real, mixing body horror with emotional devastation in ways that stick with you long after the credits roll. Perfect for anyone who loved Hereditary's family trauma or The Conjuring's supernatural thrills but wants something that actually understands how teenagers talk and act.
The verdict
If you crave smart horror that builds genuine dread through character-driven chaos and can handle disturbing body horror mixed with emotional devastation, this is essential viewing. If you prefer your scares predictable or get squeamish watching teenagers make increasingly unhinged decisions, stick to something tamer.
Watch with
- 👥 Horror fans who want fresh scares
- ⚠️ Parents should skip - intense teen peril
Heads up
- Intense possession sequences with body horror (frequent)
- Self-harm and suicidal ideation themes (moderate)
- Child/teen in serious supernatural danger (extreme)
- Disturbing imagery of spirits and death (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Michael Philippou
- Cast
- Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio
Official synopsis
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Perfect Blue (1998)
Both explore psychological horror through dangerous obsessions that blur reality.
Total runtime: 1h 35m + 1h 22m = 2h 57m
