A24 has been a pivotal force in elevating the indie horror scene by finding talent and stories brimming with potential and helping them get in front of the biggest audiences possible. Their latest addition to their strong lineage is Talk to Me – the feature debut of directing duo Danny and Michael Philippou (also known as RakkaRakka on YouTube).

Talk to Me is a supernatural horror story following Mia (Sophie Wilde) – a teenage girl suffering from grief who becomes involved in a twisted party game involving a cryptic hand and undead entities. Now, A24 has put out a handful of similar horror/drama films connecting ghosts to guilt and grief in the last few years. Films like Hereditary and The Eternal Daughter similarly use grief as a thematic tool in their supernatural horror stories. While it has been incredibly effective in making their stories both scary and deeply emotional, the combination of grief and ghosts is starting to become a little overused. However, the Philippou brothers have crafted a story that totally stands apart from its thematic and conceptual counterparts as it focuses on a much younger protagonist.

Instead of having an older protagonist whose ghosts stem from past regrets or actions, Mia’s story allows for a unique perspective on lingering pain and its connection to a ghost that could potentially be her deceased mother. There’s something instantly connective about how Mia tries to push down her grief and seem like she’s moved forward – even though she obviously hasn’t. The way she tries to put on a smile but struggles to fully escape her pain is very relatable and acts as a great way for audiences to emotionally connect with Mia right away. Then, when Mia is introduced to the film’s central game where players hold hands with an eerie-looking hand statue and utter phrases that let ghosts possess them for a brief time, everything changes.

Once Mia sees a way for her to possibly reconnect with her mom, her pain completely consumes her and drives her down a dark path. Mia’s journey in the film is incredibly raw with its emotions and harrowing with how reality continually blurs for her. Mia’s story is sort of a cautionary tale with how she ends up succumbing to her grief in tragic ways and it’s a big reminder of how important it is to find ways to move forward from tragedy to avoid falling into self-destructive patterns. Wilde’s performance is flawless in how emotive and scary she can be as Mia and the vulnerability she brings to a tear-jerking scene between her and her dad openly talking about her mother’s death. It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen this year and Wilde leaves an unshakable impact through the tremendous range she shows. Mia’s story and the film’s depiction of her grief all build towards an ending that’s truly horrifying and adds to the cautionary nature of her arc.

Mia’s personal journey would be more than enough to hook and connect audiences through the entirety of the film’s haunting themes that are rooted in real anguish. However, there’s so much more to Talk to Me that makes it one of the most captivating and nerve-shredding films of the year. Whenever the film’s characters use this demonic-looking hand to talk to damaged spirits, it’s hard not to be totally immersed in the moment. There’s just this palpable suspense in the atmosphere and the film does such a great job making viewers as intrigued by the hand as the characters are.

The lore built around this mesmerizing hand is simple yet enthralling. The graffiti scribbled all over the hand establishes this lineage of owners and users that’s compelling and boasts a lot of story potential. Its design is both creepy and alluring to the point where you’d almost feel tempted to grab onto the hand if it was in front of you. The way that it’s become a viral sensation fits the younger characters perfectly and gives it this larger-than-life presence. Not to mention, its use at parties makes it seem pretty harmless at first and perfectly lulls viewers and the film’s characters into a sense of safety that’s eventually ripped out from under them. Those feelings of safety are honestly what make the first act of Talk to Me so perfect as it sort of comforts you into the fun horror of this hand as well as the lingering grief that’s slowly consuming Mia.

After a deeply chilling cold open, you’re sort of just chilling with the vibes of the film and the party atmosphere that’s fun and slightly nostalgic. However, there’s a moment that acts as the film ripping the band-aid off that audiences won’t be prepared for. After a possession takes a nasty turn, things become totally unhinged and you’re left almost paralyzed in fear by how much bloodshed is occurring on-screen. It catches viewers completely off-guard by the panic that’s felt and the violence displayed. It’s so effective that you never feel safe again and it adds an impactful layer of fear to people going under the hand’s spell. The stakes heighten immensely, and the weight of this bloody and sudden turn carries through the rest of the film to make it a one of a kind horror ride. 

Talk to Me is an absolutely chilling experience after its big turn occurs and its visual horrors – both with its creepy spirits and visceral carnage – will leave viewers shocked. The film consistently ups the ante and stakes in big ways while finding moments to completely horrify viewers and twist their minds. The Philippou brothers have created a modern ghost story that isn’t afraid to blur reality and deliver unhinged brutality that’s tough to shake. Their storytelling, direction, and vision are truly top-notch and are helped by Wilde’s incredible performance. Mia’s personal arc also elevates the horror of the film greatly and is a pivotal part to the film being so engaging. Every step of Mia trying to right her wrongs while also dealing with her personal pain is full of nerve-shredding suspense and traumatizing horror – which is what makes her arc also this intense internal tug of war. Not to mention, Talk to Me has such a well-executed concept that’s consistently compelling and constantly building towards its unforgettably terrifying conclusions.

Talk to Me is currently the best horror film of the year – and quite possibly one of the best films in general of 2023 – as the Philippou brothers have crafted a can’t-miss debut that has all the makings of an instant classic. It’s a refreshing entry in a subgenre of horror that has become a little stale lately and is a horror experience that legitimately feels exciting and new. It’s no wonder that A24 is already looking to do more with this world and audiences will easily find themselves hooked and horrified by everything Talk to Me offers.

Watch the Trailer Here: