DISCLAIMER: There are heavy spoilers for A24’s “Talk To Me” ahead.
Horror movies often fall into a tell-don’t-show mindset, which in turn receives a not-so-ideal response from audiences. This isn’t just limited to horror films; however, it is a popular issue many recent horror films seem to have. Reusing overdone clichés, writing surface-level characters, and having cheap, unfulfilling scares are no doubt difficult to work around, especially since there are thousands of horror movies and limited ways to construct a unique plot. Most of the typical setups have been done before, and it’s a challenge to stand out to create a memorable horror flick that both frightens and captivates an audience.
That’s where A24’s newest horror film “Talk To Me” stands out as a breakout film for two unknown directors that took a seemingly basic plot, and morphed it into a great example of originality and creativity. Possession films have been made many times before; films like “The Exorcist,” “Evil Dead” and “Prince of Darkness” come to mind instantly. However, in “Talk To Me,” the directors take this idea and work to answer the question “what’s on the other side?” rather than simply showing you the demons and spirits that possess the living.
The movie’s main plot is about a group of teens who discover an embalmed hand of a serial killer that is said to possess you and force you to do terrible and odd things if you hold onto it for too long. The teens dare one another to grab the hand and say, “talk to me” as a way to grant spirits passage into them. However, as the teens take turns being possessed, they become addicted to the sensation, almost like a drug. It’s an otherworldly feeling that they can’t describe, and although it's dangerous and unpredictable, they can’t help themselves and keep coming back.
This take on possession grants a new way to show terror, as you watch these teens being played and messed with by demons for their own carelessness in dealing with otherworldly forces. The demons force the teens to turn on one another and create rifts in all the characters' relationships, which makes the film even harder to watch as you see the characters break down because of the events.
This film does an amazing job at telling a story, but also leaving some aspects vague enough for the audience to come up with their own conclusions. It’s not directly stated, but my theory of the film is that it’s an allegory for hell and eternal punishment. The film wants you, the viewer, to know the gravity of dealing with supernatural forces.
There are scenes that hint at some of the punishment you get, but only in one specific moment of the film do we truly see what lies in store for us after death if we use the hand. For context, the scene happens when one of the teens is trying to figure out how to save one of her friends who almost dies from a spirit attacking him after holding onto the hand for too long. He’s in the hospital struggling, and the girl believes she can use the hand to save his life. Instead, there’s a shocking moment where we see what’s happening to him.
The music swells as hellish choral screams and groans fill your ears. The screen, usually a pale gray tone, switches to a fiery blood-red hue, and then we see arms with long black nails and the naked, warped bodies of demons and spirits grab, pull and stab the boy. This moment is his eternal punishment.
It works so well, as the entire film up until this point has been somewhat slow, with a long build-up to this horrifying moment. This scene is quick compared to the others, yet it hits even harder to give a little bit of explanation for what the hand really is. It’s a portal to the other realm, a warning that curiosity could lead to your downfall.
If you haven’t had a chance to see this film, I highly recommend it. It is entertaining and suspenseful, even if it does leave you with plenty of questions and theories. The film has plenty of scares and even some morbidly comedic moments that blend together to make an overall entertaining movie that’s definitely worth a watch.
Mia Ashby is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Mia by emailing her at ma237419@ohio.edu.
