Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In many movies, there are scenes where two characters are required to talk to each other, and often it’s because someone wants something from the other. Usually, this means that someone needs to win the scene. They need to walk away with something. And even if they don’t, the other person does, and it tells us something about the story to move on.
Winning means everything because without it, the characters don’t learn anything new and importantly, it’s hard for us to watch them grow and overcome challenges on their quest to be the hero of the story.
But what happens if nobody wins?
Thank you to my incredible Patreons for continuing to support this channel. You guys are amazing.
These include the lovely people “Matthew McKinley", "Adam McCarter", "FloNess" and "ThatEvilCanadian” at the time this was made.
If you’d also like the option of becoming a Patreon, head to:
patreon.com/motioninart
For more of my reviews, analyses, and other articles:
motioninartmedia.com
Twitter:
twitter.com/motion_in_art
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What is Talk To Me?
Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou in their feature directorial debuts, written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, and based on a concept by Daley Pearson. It stars Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, and Zoe Terakes. The film follows a group of teenagers who discover they are able to contact spirits using a mysterious severed and embalmed hand.
Talk to Me premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022, and was released by Maslow Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment, and Ahi Films in Australia on 27 July 2023. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, direction, horror sequences, practical effects, sound design and performances, with Wilde and Bird receiving particular praise. It was a box office success, grossing approximately $91.9 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget, becoming American distributor A24's highest-grossing horror film and second highest-grossing film overall. A sequel is currently in development.
Talk to Me is a co-production of Causeway Films, Bankside Films, and Talk to Me Holdings, and is a presentation of Screen Australia in association with the South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Head Gear Films, and Metrol Technology. Directors Danny and Michael Philippou worked closely with producer Samantha Jennings, one of the co-founders of production company Causeway Films, who is familiar with Adelaide. They knew her from working with her on The Babadook (2014), another Causeway Films production, and credit her with keeping them grounded and helping to shape the film.
Talk to Me sold to numerous international distributors at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. It had its debut in a preview screening at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022, the closing night of the festival.
The film had its international premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in its midnight lineup. After the premiere spurred a bidding war with Universal Pictures and others, A24 won and acquired the rights to distribute the film in the United States. Maslow Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment and Ahi Films were confirmed to be co-distributing the film in Australia and New Zealand.
The film had its European premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival and also screened in the United States at South by Southwest (SXSW) that same year. The film also had its Canadian premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on 23 July 2023.
Talk to Me was theatrically released in Australia on 27 July 2023, before releasing on the following day in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and internationally. In Kuwait, however, the film was banned from the theatrical release, reportedly for featuring a transgender actor, Zoe Terakes. The reports came despite the fact that the film was screening in other parts of the conservative Gulf region. Terakes expressed their disappointment about the news on social media. On 9 August, the Kuwaiti authority formally announced the ban of both Talk to Me and American comedy film Barbie (which has an underlying feminist theme, as well as a transgender actor), claiming that it was to protect "public ethics and social traditions".
Talk to Me was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on 3 October 2023, and in Australia on 25 October 2023.
And if you’re still reading this – hello.
This video is made through Fair Use under copyright law for the purposes of education in criticism or review; as well as parody or satire. copyright.gov/title17/92c https://www.copyright.org.au/ACC_Prod
In many movies, there are scenes where two characters are required to talk to each other, and often it’s because someone wants something from the other. Usually, this means that someone needs to win the scene. They need to walk away with something. And even if they don’t, the other person does, and it tells us something about the story to move on.
Winning means everything because without it, the characters don’t learn anything new and importantly, it’s hard for us to watch them grow and overcome challenges on their quest to be the hero of the story.
But what happens if nobody wins?
Thank you to my incredible Patreons for continuing to support this channel. You guys are amazing.
These include the lovely people “Matthew McKinley", "Adam McCarter", "FloNess" and "ThatEvilCanadian” at the time this was made.
If you’d also like the option of becoming a Patreon, head to:
patreon.com/motioninart
For more of my reviews, analyses, and other articles:
motioninartmedia.com
Twitter:
twitter.com/motion_in_art
Reddit:
reddit.com/user/motioninart
What is Talk To Me?
Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou in their feature directorial debuts, written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, and based on a concept by Daley Pearson. It stars Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, and Zoe Terakes. The film follows a group of teenagers who discover they are able to contact spirits using a mysterious severed and embalmed hand.
Talk to Me premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022, and was released by Maslow Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment, and Ahi Films in Australia on 27 July 2023. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, direction, horror sequences, practical effects, sound design and performances, with Wilde and Bird receiving particular praise. It was a box office success, grossing approximately $91.9 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget, becoming American distributor A24's highest-grossing horror film and second highest-grossing film overall. A sequel is currently in development.
Talk to Me is a co-production of Causeway Films, Bankside Films, and Talk to Me Holdings, and is a presentation of Screen Australia in association with the South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Head Gear Films, and Metrol Technology. Directors Danny and Michael Philippou worked closely with producer Samantha Jennings, one of the co-founders of production company Causeway Films, who is familiar with Adelaide. They knew her from working with her on The Babadook (2014), another Causeway Films production, and credit her with keeping them grounded and helping to shape the film.
Talk to Me sold to numerous international distributors at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. It had its debut in a preview screening at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022, the closing night of the festival.
The film had its international premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in its midnight lineup. After the premiere spurred a bidding war with Universal Pictures and others, A24 won and acquired the rights to distribute the film in the United States. Maslow Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment and Ahi Films were confirmed to be co-distributing the film in Australia and New Zealand.
The film had its European premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival and also screened in the United States at South by Southwest (SXSW) that same year. The film also had its Canadian premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on 23 July 2023.
Talk to Me was theatrically released in Australia on 27 July 2023, before releasing on the following day in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and internationally. In Kuwait, however, the film was banned from the theatrical release, reportedly for featuring a transgender actor, Zoe Terakes. The reports came despite the fact that the film was screening in other parts of the conservative Gulf region. Terakes expressed their disappointment about the news on social media. On 9 August, the Kuwaiti authority formally announced the ban of both Talk to Me and American comedy film Barbie (which has an underlying feminist theme, as well as a transgender actor), claiming that it was to protect "public ethics and social traditions".
Talk to Me was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on 3 October 2023, and in Australia on 25 October 2023.
And if you’re still reading this – hello.
This video is made through Fair Use under copyright law for the purposes of education in criticism or review; as well as parody or satire. copyright.gov/title17/92c https://www.copyright.org.au/ACC_Prod
