Talk to Me (2022 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Headquarters | Australia , Australia |
| Products | Supernatural horror film |
Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural horror film marking the feature directorial debut of Danny and Michael Philippou, with a screenplay by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, inspired by an idea from Daley Pearson. The cast includes Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson, and Alexandria Steffensen. The narrative follows a group of teenagers who uncover the ability to communicate with spirits through a peculiar embalmed severed hand.
The film had its world premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022 and was subsequently released in Australia on 27 July 2023 by Maslow Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment, and Ahi Films. Its U.S. distribution was handled by A24. Garnering favorable reviews from critics, it achieved a global box office total of $92 million against a production budget of $4.5 million, becoming A24's most commercially successful horror release.
Plot
During a house party in Adelaide, Cole searches for his brother Duckett, who stabs Cole before taking his own life.
Seventeen-year-old Mia is coping with the anniversary of her mother Rhea’s accidental overdose and the emotional distance of her father Max. Mia attends a gathering with her friend Jade and Jade’s brother Riley, where they discover an embalmed severed hand that allows them to connect with spirits. Uttering "Talk to me" summons spirits, while saying "I let you in" permits possession. Possession must be terminated within 90 seconds by removing the hand and extinguishing a candle. Mia volunteers first and becomes possessed by a spirit fixated on Riley; the group struggles to end the possession, exceeding the time limit slightly.
Encouraged by this experience, Mia joins Hayley, Joss, and Jade’s boyfriend Daniel at another event the next evening. Except for Riley and his friend James, everyone takes turns being possessed. Riley demands to participate despite Jade’s objections; Mia grants him a 50-second turn. Riley appears overtaken by Rhea’s spirit, attempting to mend his relationship with Mia. Disregarding cautions, Mia extends the possession duration, resulting in Riley severely injuring himself and being hospitalized in critical condition.
Plagued by visions of her mother and blamed for Riley’s state, Mia faces rejection from Jade and her mother Sue. Having secretly taken possession of the hand, Mia allows Daniel to stay at her father’s home. While sharing a bed platonically, she witnesses a spirit sucking Daniel’s feet; upon awakening, Daniel sees Mia performing this act while entranced and leaves abruptly. Using the hand to reach out to Rhea’s spirit, Mia learns that her mother’s death was accidental but discovers that Riley remains possessed even when conscious. Maintaining this connection causes Mia to see her mother without using the hand, blurring her grip on reality.
The friends locate Cole, who explains that living bodies naturally expel invading spirits. Concerned for Riley’s condition, Mia attempts to contact him in the hospital with the hand but perceives him suffering torment in the afterlife. Max reveals that Rhea’s death was actually suicide after reading her letter and apologizing for concealing the truth. Rhea’s spirit denies this version; Mia hallucinates an assault by Max and accidentally stabs him. Rhea informs Mia that Riley must die to be freed from possession. Mia abducts Riley from the hospital; Jade witnesses her pushing him toward a highway. Under Rhea’s urging to push Riley into traffic, Mia instead jumps herself and dies.
Mia awakens in the hospital to find Riley recovered and speaking with Jade and Sue while Max silently departs. She is ignored by those around her, lacks a reflection, and her body is disfigured. Surrounded by darkness, she sees a hand extended over a candle; grasping it transports her to a house party in Greece, where someone holding her hand whispers, "I let you in."
Cast
- Sophie Wilde portrays Mia
- Alexandra Jensen appears as Jade, a close friend of Mia
- Joe Bird plays Riley, who is Jade’s younger sibling
- Otis Dhanji takes on the role of Daniel, Jade’s boyfriend
- Miranda Otto features as Sue, mother to both Jade and Riley
- Zoe Terakes acts as Hayley, one of the party hosts
- Chris Alosio is cast as Joss, another party host
- Marcus Johnson represents Max, the father of Mia
- Alexandria Steffensen plays Rhea, Mia’s mother
- Sunny Johnson appears as Duckett
- Ari McCarthy plays Cole, who is Duckett’s brother
- Jacek Koman assumes the role of Burke Spirit
Production
Talk to Me was developed through a collaboration between Causeway Films, Bankside Films, and Talk to Me Holdings. The project received support from Screen Australia, the South Australian Film Corporation, the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Head Gear Films, and Metrol Technology. Directors Danny and Michael Philippou worked in close partnership with producer Samantha Jennings, co-founder of Causeway Films and a native of Adelaide. Having previously collaborated on The Babadook (2014), they acknowledge Jennings’ crucial role in anchoring the film’s vision and guiding its development process.
Release
At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Talk to Me secured various international distribution agreements. It had its world premiere as the closing film at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022. The international debut took place during the midnight screenings at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. US distribution rights were obtained by A24, while Maslow Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment, and Ahi Films managed distribution across Australia and New Zealand.
The European premiere occurred at the Berlin International Film Festival, followed by a screening at the US-based South by Southwest (SXSW). The Canadian premiere was held during July 2023 at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
The movie was released theatrically in Australia on 27 July 2023 and subsequently launched in markets including the US, Canada, and the UK. Despite its regional availability, Talk to Me was prohibited in Kuwait because it featured non-binary and transgender actor Zoe Terakes. This ban came even though it screened in other Gulf countries. Kuwaiti officials justified their decision by citing the need to protect “public ethics and social traditions,” applying similar restrictions to this film and Barbie. Terakes publicly voiced disappointment regarding this censorship.
In collaboration with A24 and IMAX, Talk to Me enjoyed a one-night exclusive re-release in IMAX theaters on 22 January 2025.
Home media
In the United States, Talk to Me became available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray formats on 3 October 2023 through Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The Australian home media release followed on 25 October 2023.
Box office
Talk to Me earned $48.3 million across the United States and Canada, supplemented by $43.9 million from international markets, culminating in a global total of $92.2 million.
During its North American debut, it opened alongside Haunted Mansion with initial projections ranging from $4 to $5 million across 2,340 theaters. Following a robust first day gross of $4.2 million—including $1.3 million from Thursday previews—forecasts increased to approximately $10 million. The film ultimately launched with $10.4 million in revenue, securing fifth place and marking A24’s strongest opening since Midsommar in 2019. Its second weekend brought in $6.3 million, reflecting a moderate 40% decline that outperformed typical horror genre drop-offs. Remaining within the top ten for six consecutive weeks, Talk to Me surpassed Hereditary as A24’s highest-grossing domestic horror release with $44.5 million as of September 3.
Critical response
According to audience surveys conducted by CinemaScore, the movie received an average rating of "B+" on a scale ranging from A+ to F.
Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times lauded the film’s practical effects and vibrant energy, emphasizing Sophie Wilde’s dynamic lead performance alongside Joe Bird’s impressive supporting role. Similarly, Justin Chang from the Los Angeles Times praised both Bird and Wilde, highlighting Wilde’s portrayal of Mia’s emotional complexity as a pivotal element contributing to the film’s overall impact.
Jake Wilson from The Sydney Morning Herald awarded the film 3½ out of 4 stars, acknowledging its strong debut despite an ending that left emotional ambiguity. Peter Howell of the Toronto Star gave it three stars out of four, commending its ability to evoke suspense with minimal reliance on special effects and effective sound design. David Rooney at The Hollywood Reporter underscored the movie’s exploration of grief and trauma, describing it as a valuable addition to the horror genre while praising Wilde’s compelling dramatic work.
Dennis Harvey of Variety provided a more mixed critique, recognizing the confident craftsmanship but pointing out inconsistencies in the screenplay’s tone. Matthew Mongale from The Austin Chronicle expressed reservations about the film’s treatment of trauma, suggesting that its intricate family relationships were not fully developed.
In 2025, an IndieWire critic listed the film among the "25 Scariest Movies on Netflix," describing it as "one of the most purely enjoyable horror films in recent memory" and dubbing it "a new classic within the horror genre."
Accolades
| AACTA Awards | 10 February 2024 | Best Film | Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton | Template:Won | [11] |
|---|
| AACTA Award for Best Direction | Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou | Template:Won |
|---|---|---|
| AACTA Award for Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted | Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman | Template:Won |
| AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role | Sophie Wilde | Template:Won |
| AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Zoe Terakes | Template:Nom |
| AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Alex Jensen | Template:Nom |
| AACTA Award for Best Cinematography | Aaron McLisky | Template:Nom |
| AACTA Award for Best Editing | Geoff Lamb | Template:Won |
| AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score | Cornel Wilczek | Template:Won |
| AACTA Award for Best Sound | Emma Bortignon, Pete Smith, Nick Steele | Template:Won |
| AACTA Award for Best Hair and Makeup | Rebecca Buratto, Paul Katte, Nick Nicolaou | Template:Won |
Prequel
In August 2023, Danny and Michael Philippou revealed they had finished principal filming on a short prequel that delves into Duckett's background prior to the events of the original film. The production was carried out back-to-back, utilizing screenlife techniques centered on mobile devices and social media platforms, featuring Sunny Johnson in the role of Duckett. The creators intend to release this short film at a future date. Later that same month, clips from the prequel were anonymously shared online as part of promotional efforts for Talk to Me, but were subsequently taken down due to concerns regarding their content. These clips are scheduled for an official release in due course.
Sequel
Also in August 2023, the Philippou brothers confirmed their intention to develop a sequel, having already drafted scenes for it. Shortly afterward, A24 unveiled the sequel's title as Talk 2 Me along with its official logo. Danny and Michael Philippou are set to return as co-directors, with the screenplay penned by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, both reprising their writing roles.
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