Talk to Me movie review: The film keeps you hooked

Wilde makes for an admirable Mia who, two years into the death of her mother from an overdose of sleeping pills, combines all of the above into her frail frame. Apart from the pain and shock still wracking her, Mia finds herself increasingly having to play second fiddle to best friend Jade’s (Jensen) boyfriend, Daniel (Dhanji). It doesn’t help that she has lingering feelings still for Daniel, having dated him briefly.

Not able to talk to her father about how she feels, Mia has adopted Jade’s family as her own, and spends almost all her time there. Jade’s mother (Otto) treats her as her own daughter – as much to love as to scold.

This shifting world of Mia takes an unsettling tilt when one day she, Jade, Daneil and Jade’s young brother Riley (Bird) participate in a séance conducted by fellow teens, promptly captured on mobile cameras and posted online. In this case, the spirits are beckoned by grasping a mystery ceramic hand and whispering: “Talk to Me”. You open your eyes and there is no saying whose spirit would be waiting for you across the table.

A taste of it, and Mia finds a release she hasn’t felt in a long time. But how far will that taste take her, and given her state of mind, how easily can what’s out there subsume her?

Having built the scenario up, with the required drama, angst, mood, rain pattering against windows and shadows playing on lonesome faces, and without resorting to any easy-scare gimmicks, the Philippous do not know what to do with the out-of-control spirits.

What follows is last 40 minutes of a confused resolution, where whatever convictions you might have held for Mia take a significant blow.

However, that’s not to say you aren’t paying attention. The Philippous, popular YouTubers of horror comedies, who were also part of the crew of the lauded The Babadook, remain on the ball on that aspect. “Talk to Me” is an appeal that is as much plaintive as urgent in this film, compelling you to listen.

Talk to Me movie cast: Sophia Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto
Talk to Me movie director: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Talk to Me movie rating: 2.5 stars