Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
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.
Talk to Me is a striking debut from the Philippou brothers that distinguishes itself with a genuinely fresh hook — the ceramic embalmed hand as a social-media-age possession device — and an unflinching parallel between supernatural addiction and real-world self-harm and grief. The premise and its execution are distinctive enough to earn high Novelty marks, blending Gen Z aesthetics, peer pressure dynamics, and body horror in a way that feels singular. Acting is solid across the board, particularly Sophie Wilde's committed lead performance, though the supporting cast is uneven. Cinematography is competent and occasionally striking, leaning into handheld immediacy without being especially stylish. The plot is engaging in its first two acts but loses some coherence as it escalates. The ending is its weakest element — an ambiguous, somewhat abrupt conclusion that feels more unresolved than meaningfully open-ended, undercutting the emotional arc of the grief storyline.