Talk to me

     Talk to Me, the 2022 horror film by Danny and Michael Philipou is a film surrounding a cursed hand. It's known as a fun party game, but turns dark very quickly, considering the hand's past. The story begins with Mia. Mia is living with her step-family currently after her mom passed away. She lives with her step-sister and stepbrother, along with her stepmom. Mia is reckless, while Jade, her step-sister is cautious. They attend the party where this hand is being used. Typically, people will hold onto the hand say "Talk to me," and take on the form of a dead spirit. They have to come back to their own body in under 30 seconds or else..well, they don't know (yet). Mia uses the hand and loves the experience. She attempts to get her younger stepbrother Riley to try it next. Jade isn't too pleased with this idea, as she wants to protect her younger brother. When Jade is out of the room, Riley uses the hand. While using it, the spirit that possesses him is violent. They are unable to get the hand out of Riley's hand under 30 seconds, and Riley is immensely injured. He is rushed to the hospital. Everyone, especially Mia and Jade are in shock. Riley seems to be trapped by the evil spirits, and they won't let go of him. Mia makes many attempts to save him, but ultimately someone has to die for the spirits to let go of Riley. Mia ends up taking her own life in the end to join the spirits. She has a conversation with her dead mother using the hand, and her mother promised to protect Riley, but little did she know, she'd have to protect her own daughter in the afterlife.

Overall, this movie wasn't my favorite. The plot was a little complicated and didn't make the most sense. Despite this, I think the camera work was really effective. We saw extreme close-up shots, really encapsulating the character's fearful faces. The gore and violence in this movie are also effective. It made you want to look away, but at the same time, it really added to the intensity of the story.

Another part of this movie that I enjoyed was the ending. It was kind of a full-circle moment. (SPOILERS!!!) 

The way Mia becomes one of the lost-spirits that is connected to the people using the hand was a genius way to end the movie. This ending is honestly what made the movie for me. You can see the absolute horror in Mia's eyes, as she knows what her life has come to.