NOW IN THEATERS! What if the Ouija board was updated for the augmented reality age? That is essentially the premise of Talk to Me, an electrifying debut from the Brothers Philippou, who has amassed a fervent following under the nom de plume RackaRacka on Youtube. Wait. Come back here, Don’t let that deter you from what very may well be one of the most electrifying debuts on the horror scene since a young Kevin Williamson unleashed Ghostface to the masses back in the 90s. Despite their enfante terrible reputation online, twins Danny and Michael Philippou’s first feature is a measured, thoughtful and nuanced approach to loss and coping, punctuated by authentically creepy images that are sure to linger once the lights come up.
The film focuses on Mia (the outstanding Sophie Wilde), a high-schooler who recently lost her mother. Still reeling, Mia spends time hanging with her BFF Jade (Alexandra Jensen) and Jade’s younger brother Riley (Joe Bird). They hear of a fellow student in possession of a ceramic embalmed hand that can apparently serve as a bridge to the afterlife if they follow a series of specific instructions.
Initially reluctant, they begin to feel the rush of momentarily dancing with the dead. That is until Mia begins to communicate with a spirit resembling her dead mother that plants seeds of doubt in the young girl’s mind. Mia becomes somewhat addicted to the thrill and becomes increasingly determined to connect with her mother, but at what cost? Riley, anxious to get in with the cool kids, gives it a whirl, but his “visit” with the dead potentially widens the portal and invites unintended chaos. 
“What if the Ouija board was updated for the augmented reality age?”
Throughout, Talk to Me remains visually arresting, with nods to such seminal horror films as Psycho, Evil Dead, Hereditary, and Get Out. Still, the brothers resist overindulging on camera trickery and let its narrative—and a stellar cast—take the wheel. As the lead, Wilde is captivating, capable of instantaneously switching from fragile to fierce. 
But the rest of the cast deserves accolades for their lived-in performances. Each of them feels as authentic as any group of teens who find themselves over their heads after realizing they may have stepped far out of their comfort zone. Even Miranda Otto as Jade and Riley’s hard-nosed mother is a rarity in films such as this: an adult who is more than an order-barking, child-doubting reactionary. She’s caustically suspicious but aware of her shortcomings and devoted to her family.
Last year, Bodies Bodies Bodies unfairly received early buzz that it was perhaps a successor to the throne of teen horror. Whether it was the marketing department or word-of-mouth, that was a misclassification of the clever little whodunnit. But Talk to Me feels like an organic heir and one that is destined to make waves on whichever platform it lands stateside. 
Additionally, it signals a strong new voice in the genre with the Philippous that is equally confident, commanding, and committed to slinking under your skin.
Talk to Me screened at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.