Countdown to Halloween: “Talk to Me” and “Bring Her Back”
- Matt Palmer
- Oct 13, 2025
- 4 min read
In the 2023 A24 horror movie “Talk to Me,” 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.
This 2023 horror flick provides a really tense and dark atmosphere, a fresh take on the possession subgenre and a use of some disturbing practical effects. The movie portrays the possession ritual as a thrilling, trendy game among teenagers, turning it into a dangerous addiction for its characters.
The possession sequences in “Talk to Me” can be quite visceral and intense. The filmmakers also used some unique editing to create a pervasive sense of dread and panic. Throughout the movie, we see how this possession trend gets really out of hand as the main protagonist, Mia, becomes increasingly entangled with the spirits, leading to a series of events that result in her being driven mad.
“Talk to Me” has also been highly praised for its balance of genuine teenage fun with brutal, unpredictable moments and its ability to disturb viewers with realistic portrayals of grief, addiction and mental health themes.
MPA: Rated R for strong/bloody violent content, some sexual material and language throughout (runtime 95 minutes)
You can currently stream “Talk to Me” on Paramount Plus and HBO Max, or you can rent it through various PVOD services.
In the recent A24 horror movie “Bring Her Back,” which was released at the end of May,
a brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at a secluded home of their new foster mother after the tragic death of their father.
“Bring Her Back” is also directed by directing duo Danny and Michael Philippou, the brothers who also made their directing debut with “Talk to Me.” Even though “Bring Her Back” is one of the strangest horror movies I have recently seen, it’s originality is great and it delivers a lot of emotion and very strong performances, especially from Sally Hawkins.
This A24 horror movie doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares and instead builds on disturbing tension throughout the movie. Now, while the first portion of the movie can be a bit on the slow moving side, it actually works for this movie as the slow moments also helps build onto the tension and dread before things go completely off the rails halfway through the movie.
Besides delivering some terrifying horror, “Bring Her Back” can actually get really emotional at times. The story’s focus on themes of grief and loss can be quite devastating and also a little suspenseful, especially at the movie’s conclusion. The ritual sequences are really intriguing and even though the reason for the ritual can be a little predictable, it’s still one of the most compelling moments of this movie.
“Bring Her Back” is a slow burn supernatural/psychological horror that does a great job using grief and obsession to explore how loss can drive people to unimaginable acts.
MPA: Rated R for strong disturbing bloody violent content, grisly images, graphic nudity, underage drinking and language (runtime 104 minutes)
You can currently stream “Bring Her Back” on HBO Max or rent it through various PVOD services.
Six hands were made for the movie should any of them happen to get damaged or broken. Director Danny Philippou kept one of the hands.
Except for a couple of grip rig shots, the entire second possession scene montage was shot in less than one hour.
The second highest grossing film in A24's history, as of 2023.
Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou were offered a high sum to remake the film in America with a big budget but they declined. Their remit is to make most of their films either exclusively in Australia or at least to have the visual effects done in their home country.
Danny and Michael Phillipou turned down the chance to direct an unknown film in the DCEU in favor of having Talk to Me be their directorial film debut.
Riley's possession scene was an emotionally draining one, to the point that Joe Bird would need time both before and after, away from the cast and crew, to collect himself. It was also physically draining, for obvious reasons.
One of the teens is seen using an iPhone, and they had to get permission from Apple. Similarly, they also got permission to use Snapchat. Both were essential, in their eyes as they wanted to film to feel authentic to teenagers/young people.
Set in Adelaide, Australia, the hometown of directors Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou.
The Philippou brothers (RackaRacka) have attracted more than 1.5 billion views on YouTube with over six and a half million subscribers tuned in across their social media channels.
Sora Wong had "zero experience" acting professionally before she was cast in the film. Her mother came across a casting call on Facebook looking for a visually impaired girl. Wong was born with coloboma and microphthalmia, which left her blind in her left eye, with very weak vision in the right.
Sally Hawkins does her own stunts in the movie.
Comments