‘Talk to Me’ Spoiler-Free Review

   I will be the first to admit that any movie the internet attempts to call “The scariest film of all time” or “The most terrifying movie of the decade”, already has me rolling my eyes. Now with that said, horror fans should never allow that kind of marketing to stop them from watching said movie. So I stepped into the theater, found my seat, got my popcorn ready, and told the Philippou Brothers (Youtube’s RackaRacka) to “Talk to Me”…

  Talk To Me Delivers the Scares, Violence

From the first scene, you already get a feeling that you may have stepped into something a little heavier than your standard Hollywood horror fare. With “Talk to Me”, Danny and Michael Philippou don’t settle for unearned jump scares or cheap fake-outs to draw gasps from their audience. In fact, they make sure you never feel any solid footing by lulling you into a false sense of security with believable, snappy dialogue that crackles with youth and wit, only to pull the rug out from under your feet with a different kind of crackling, that of bones and sinew. These jarring, lightning bolts of violence with amazing practical effects and prosthetics will go a long way in keeping even the most seasoned horror fan on the edge of their seat.

   You also get what many will call a “star-making” performance from lead actress, Sophie Wilde, who fills even the simplest scene with a deep sense of sadness and barely veiled grief. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Otis Dhanji (Aquaman), Miranda Otto (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina / The Lord of the Rings), Zoe Terakes (Nine Perfect Strangers), and a stellar cast of upcoming young talents.

   And for anyone who sees the A24 logo before a film and checks out, for fear of the “Arthouse” or the dreaded “Slow Burn” film, fear not! The Philippou Brothers aren’t pulling any punches with Talk to Me. They never once pull their collective foot off the gas until you not only hit the wall, but you go right through it straight to hell.

If A24 and the rest of Hollywood are smart, they will take the Philippou Brothers by the hand and say, “Talk to Me”.

4/5 stars

Talk to Me hits theaters worldwide on July 28th