Talk to Me is the latest horror film from A24 making its way through the genre circles, gathering discussion along the way. Directed by brothers Danny and Michael Phillipou, the film originates in the online world and is a unique exploration of grief in the digital age. Being someone who consistently finds new content and horror short films on the internet, I’ve found something inspiring in Talk to Me. In production notes, the brothers have reflected on ways we relate to each other and how their influences can be seen on screen this summer. Talk to Me makes its way to movie theaters on July 28, 2023.
Talk to Me Synopsis:
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
A Story Born from South Korean Film & YouTube
The Phillipou brothers spoke about contemporary horror in their explanation of the film and their art. I would agree that modern horror films have become a communal experience and screaming or laughing through the stress on the screen can be not only cathartic but also becomes a way to bond. It also makes sense to be excited about a film like Talk to Me arriving on the big screen where packed cinemas can experience the waves of horror together. There’s something unique in the theater experience, there always will be.
Credit: Courtesy of A24
The way the internet has grown and developed alongside a previous generation and now forms the current one is unique, to say the least. Before directing Talk to Me, the brothers were known for their YouTube channel, RackaRacka, for over a decade. The duo made high-production value shorts and were able to learn a little bit of everything needed when self-producing content online.
Credit: Matthew Thorne
“With the movies that we make, whether it’s horror or any other genre, we really want our stories to have a strong emotional core. The stuff we want to create, we want it to work on multiple levels.”
Michael Phillipou
Credit: Courtesy of A24
This A24 title continues a fantastic legacy for the horror genre and the production company. There’s something fantastic about the unique avenues A24 goes down with which films they latch onto. It may be a big change going from short-form content on YouTube to long-form content on the big screen, but the Phillipous may have an advantage over other well-known horror icons. They’ve been molded by the internet’s take on horror. This is a vast land full of back rooms, digital and visual manipulations, and the endless unknown that remains online no matter how much you think you know.
Credit: Matthew Thorne
: “Losing someone is the worst feeling in the world, but the main theme for me wasn’t as much grief as it was connections between people: real ones and forced ones.”
Danny Phillipou on the themes in Talk to Me
It makes sense that the brothers have been inspired by films from South Korea. Similar to the internet, films in South Korea dance across genres. This type of inspiration combined with experience in quick problem-solving and creativity within limited resources makes Talk to Me a noteworthy step for horror. It makes sense for the brothers to work alongside a team that is familiar to them and in a setting that uses local talent in Australia. Down below will be a list for anyone interested in examining the team that worked alongside the Phillipous.
Creative Team Behind ‘Talk to Me’
- Written by:
- Danny Philippou
- Bill Hinzman
- Based on a Concept by:
- Daley Pearson
- Produced by:
- Samantha Jennings
- Kristina Ceyton
- Cinematographer:
- Aaron Mclisky ACS
- Production Designer
- Bethany Ryan
- Costume Designer
- Anna Cahill
- Makeup and Hair Designer
- Rebecca Buratto
- Special Makeup Effects Designed & Created by:
- Paul Katte & Nick Nicolaou Make-Up Effects Group
- Editor
- Geoff Lamb
- Sound Designer
- Emma Bortignon
- Original Music by:
- Cornel Wilczek
