A24’s newest horror movie shows what happens when you mess with the other side.

“Talk to Me” follows Mia, a high schooler who’s still trying to grasp the loss of her mother. Her friends Hayley and Joss have been going around playing with a cremated hand that allows them to talk to the dead, connecting their world to the other side. 

Mia begins to see her mother as she continues to talk with the other side. Her actions aren’t without consequences as evil starts to take over. 

The movie was directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. The brothers started out making YouTube videos and now have their first film out in theaters.

The casting for the movie was great. From Mia, played by Sophie Wilde, to her best friend Jade, played by Alexandra Jensen, and even Miranda Otto who played her mom Sue, everyone played their roles to perfection. 

My big criticism of the movie was that I didn’t think the jump-scares were scary. Now this isn’t a bad thing. 

Scary movies are not all about jump-scares. Sometimes you walk out feeling uneasy and disturbed from what you saw. I can say that “Talk to Me” left me feeling that way.

The production of the film was awesome, especially for the brothers’ first film.

The shots of each character being possessed were amazing. Changing camera angles really elevated the entire shot.

The most disturbing parts of the movie included not only Mia, but the character Riley, played by Joe Bird.

Riley was practically a brother to Mia and seeing him get entangled in her mess made was disheartening. 

The scenes of Riley were disturbing. Moments felt so real that I felt uncomfortable at times. 

One scene alone made the movie all the more horrifying: when Mia sees the underworld. The mix of production and sound was phenomenal. There hasn’t been a horror movie that made me feel like that since “Hereditary.” I was pleasantly surprised by how well the scene was directed and shot to give it that eerie, unsettling feeling.

While “Talk to Me” may not be every horror fan’s cup-of-tea, it was a standout for one of the best horror films of the year. Seeing what the Philippou brothers were able to do, I am excited to see what they have in store for the future, especially after they confirmed sequel.

Rank: 7.5/10