A24 is looking to snap up Australian horror flick Talk to Me across Northern America, following the Australian film's buzzy premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2023. According to Variety, the studio is currently in final negotiations with Bankside Films over the US distribution rights, and has made a seven-figure offer.
Written and directed by filmmaking brother duo Danny and Michael Philippou, who made a name for themselves via their YouTube channel RackaRacka, the movie centers on a group of teens who conduct a séance at a party. Mia (Sophia Wilde), having not long lost her mother, is particularly keen to converse with those on the other side – but the spirits they manage to contact turn out to be anything but friendly. Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Djanji, Zoe Terakes, and Lord of the Rings' Miranda Otto round out the supporting cast.
"Talk To Me's #1 goal is to scare your pants off. It's one hell of a fun time, a killer concept, and it is not f***ing around when it comes to crafting a good, gory scare," writes Nightmare on Film Street's Jonathan DeHaan.
Dread Central's John Korngut was just as much of a fan, stating in his review: "Refreshingly low-concept and surprisingly scary, Talk to Me grabs a hold of you by the wrist and refuses to let go. It's nasty, mean-spirited fun from start to finish."
"There's a refreshing ruthlessness to this cautionary tale that plays like a surge of adrenaline; it makes for one hell of an introduction to Danny and Michael Philippou's brutal brand of horror," claims Bloody Disgusting's Meagan Navarro.
Check out some more reactions out of Sundance below...
TALK TO ME is a super gnarly take on the “f—k around and find out” subgenre of horror. Hits hard in the first two minutes & keeps amping things up from there. I really dug the hell out of it a lot - great performances, story & FX. #Sundance #Sundance2023 #TalktoMe pic.twitter.com/keIYpH4nclJanuary 24, 2023
TALK TO ME is the future of horror. Its name is RackaRacka. of the best debut features I’ve ever seen and easily the prize of #Sundance2023. Depraved, disturbing, hilarious, transcendent. This movie put the crowd in a choke hold and I can’t wait to see it 10 more times. pic.twitter.com/dyXOSfC5WPJanuary 23, 2023
TALK TO ME: Wish this had spent more time interrogating its racial subtext and less time doing the whole It’s Trauma shuffle. But when it’s just going berserk in those horror sequences? Yeah, that shit hit hard. Ending was a banger, and Sophie Wilde has the goods. #Sundance pic.twitter.com/CBDhQQUNsDJanuary 24, 2023
Watching TALK TO ME right before bed was a bad idea. A gnarly, vicious, and ultimately very bleak horror movie that's full of distressing imagery. Takes a little bit to get going, but once it does it doesn't hold back. I'm upset! pic.twitter.com/GxoFlZle0AJanuary 24, 2023
I completely get why @A24 has jumped on 'Talk to Me' from directors Danny and Michael Philippou, it's terrifying! Revamped teenage horror, well paced & good story. But beware, it's relentless & gory, glad I saw it before nightfall. #SundanceFilmFestival #Sundance pic.twitter.com/3fehEidXRHJanuary 25, 2023
A24 is no stranger to releasing genre flicks, having launched the likes of Bodies Bodies Bodies, Saint Maud, The Lighthouse, Hereditary, Midsommar, Men, X, and Pearl over the last few years.
For now, Talk to Me has yet to confirm a US or UK release date but we'll be sure to keep you posted. While we wait for more news, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies coming our way in 2023 and beyond.
