It’s clear to see that Halloween has come early this year. Disney’s The Haunted Mansion remake arrives in August, more Conjuring content will roll in come September, and on this very July day, A24 has gifted us with a new chilling horror for anti-blockbuster film folks: Talk to Me.
The indie arthouse turned mega production company has become the leading name in horror, taking the crown from Blumhouse Productions, the name behind such hits as Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and The Purge. The production company first made waves in the horror world in 2015 with The Witch, starring Anya Taylor-Joy. And, in the last five years, their status has continued to rise, with each horror release more popular than the last. From Hereditary to Pearl to Saint Maud to Bodies Bodies Bodies, the production company has expanded its horror portfolio with hit films that mix strong storytelling with stellar casting and bone chilling scares. This summer, A24 is taking its biggest swing yet, with a film that horror enthusiasts are calling the scariest film ever released.
What is Talk to Me About?
Talk To Me, which landed in theaters today, follows a girl who, on the anniversary of her mother’s death, gathers her friends to explore “the other side” with the help of an embalmed hand. The storyline itself isn’t exactly reinventing the horror wheel, the Australian horror film is simple and terrifying, current and absolutely disgusting. There’s not much more we can say about it without, well, giving everything away.
The film features a cast of newcomers, including Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, and Joe Bird, and comes from sibling directors Danny and Michael Philippou. The twin filmmakers are also known as RackaRacka, the pseudonym under which they’ve created since 2013 on their popular YouTube channel. They became well known on the internet for their live-action horror comedy videos, collecting prestigious internet awards along the way, including the Streamy Award for Best International Channel.
In bringing Talk To Me to life, the Philippous collaborated with producer Samantha Jennings, who previously worked on the film The Babadook. The film, which was both filmed in and set in Adelaide, South Australia, was initially sold at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, but saw its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s midnight lineup. From there, A24 entered a bidding war with Universal Pictures, ultimately snagging the film for more than seven figures.
How Can I Watch Talk To Me in Theaters?
Talk To Me is only playing in theaters right now, and that’s for the best. A movie this grand and this terrifying begs to be seen on a giant silver screen in a pitch-black room, with the comfort of 50+ equally terrified viewers. Do you really want to watch this alone in your room?
Check your local theater for tickets, then find something to do tonight because you definitely won’t be sleeping.
How Can I Watch Talk To Me at Home?
If you're hoping for a scary movie night at home, then you're going to have to wait a little bit longer. Since Talk to Me is currently playing exclusively in theaters, it's going to be a little while until you can watch it from your couch.
However, it will definitely be making its way over to streaming, so you should be on the lookout for it!
And knowing how much that A24 loves to give audiences a chance to own their movies physically, we can likely expect a Blu-Ray and a DVD edition out as well. A24 usually adds these in their own shop, but you can probably also buy it on Amazon along with other studio favorites!
Courtney Young is a freelance writer covering all things entertainment and pop culture, having previously written for Betches, Mic, and The Cut. Her Real Housewives locale of choice is New Jersey, her emotional support show is Girls, and her toxic trait is romanticizing mafia culture. You can follow her on Instagram @courtneyyoungg.
