Talk to Me is a chilling depiction of sorrow, temptation and the seductive power of the supernatural. The idea behind the film of an embalmed hand to summon the ghosts seems to be a good spin on the quintessential haunted house narrative, but it soon turns into a shivering commentary on the theme of losing and the result of going too far in contact with some things that do not belong in human understanding. The story is a ride filled with emotional and supernatural suspense leading to a shocking experience with the unseen universe that makes a deep impression.
The acting is also gritty and natural, notably in the depiction of the emotional turbulence in Mia and her friends who struggle to cope with the loss, the guilt, and the horrifying aftermath of their deeds. The atmosphere and close proximity of the shots create tension, the definition of the direction being built on them, the visceral horror effects create both fear and pity. The sound design and music in the film enhance the uneasy feeling, and the cinematography is helpful in capturing the claustrophobic, otherworldly feeling. What I found the most interesting was that the film touches on the human need to reach out to the dead- but brings out the fact that these quests may bring about devastating powers that are beyond human control.
Although these are its strong points, at times, Talk to Me is cliched and even contains elements of the so-called horror tropes, and certain lines of the plot are too fast or convenient. However, its emotional essence the focus of which is on the sorrow and the danger of finding a solution makes it a most disturbing and thought-provoking experience. It gave me a very queasy feeling of how unsound our judgment of reality may be when we confront the supernatural, and how unsafe it is to meddle with powers that we do not fully comprehend.
