--- title: "Talk to Me: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/talk-to-me/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/talk-to-me" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Talk to Me (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 15 reviews: 13 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews for Talk to Me are warm and unusually close together: no critic dismisses it, and the mildest verdicts still call it worth seeing. Praise clusters in two places. The first is Sophie Wilde, whose grieving, possession-addicted daughter is named again and again as the reason the scares land. The second is the possession scenes themselves, which critics describe as brutal, gory and staged with a control they did not expect from first-time directors. Several reviews credit the Philippou brothers with making a corny premise feel fresh by treating the occult as a teenage party trick rather than a lesson. The reservations are consistent too. A run of critics finds the final act rushed or muddled, with plot logic and backstory left vague. The Hollywood Reporter thinks the script thematically thin, and Collider agrees the deeper ideas go underdeveloped. HeyUGuys, the coolest voice, still calls it original and thrilling. ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2023. The critic calls it one of the best horror movies of the year, praising its taut suspense, carefully deployed gore and sound design in this chilling debut from the Philippou duo. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/talk-to-me-review-best-horror-of-year-2504451) ## The AV Club — Lauren Coates Rating B+. 27 July 2023. The review commends the simple yet effective horror that blends scares with a devastating portrait of grief through a strong script and charismatic cast. It singles out Sophie Wilde's all-encompassing performance as the emotional core that makes the dread hit harder. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/talk-to-me-movie-review-a24-horror-1850681262) ## Little White Lies — Katherine McLaughlin Rating 4/4/4. 26 July 2023. The critic praises the YouTube duo's ambitious debut as a thoroughly disturbing and uncompromising horror that explores grief, peer pressure, and digital teen life through demonic possession. It singles out the visually and emotionally brutal possession scenes and the credible teen characters. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/talk-to-me) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2023. The critic finds the film an electrifying update to teen horror for the social media age, praising its portrayal of the craze's effects on believable young characters and its use of long takes and sharp shocks. It singles out the convincing setup that makes the dangerous pastime appealing to the teens. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/talk-me-electrifying-haunted-hand-horror) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. A24 snapped up this terrifying, moving horror debut from the Aussie twins, which jangles with scuzzy menace and has a vision beyond mere mortal danger. The film is an excellent head-turning debut that grabs attention with verve. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/talk-to-me-review-a-boozy-seance-takes-us-to-hell/) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Rating 4/5. 25 July 2023. The critic calls it a smart, spiky Aussie possession horror that gets under your skin, praising the directors' grasp of mood and avoidance of obvious scares in favor of foreboding and sadness. It singles out the impressive first film quality and the cast's excellent work, especially young Joe Bird. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/talk-to-me-2023) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2023. The critic highlights the film's impressively slick execution and the fun, addictive possession scenes treated as a teen party trick. It singles out the directors' button-pushing style and the movie's understanding of tech as a vector for isolation while delivering solid scares. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/talk-to-me-review-an-impressively-slick-a24-horror-movie.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2023. Festival review. The critic notes that the first-time directors tell the story of foolhardy youth and spirit world portal well, with plenty of atmosphere and effects appealing to horror fans. It singles out the effective translation of the brothers' YouTube ambition into a feature with crowd-pleasing scares. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/talk-to-me-sundance-review/5178129.article) ## Empire — John Nugent 25 July 2023. The critic praises the measured approach and emotional backbone of grief in this debut horror from the Philippou brothers, highlighting the ferocious finale, while noting some sagging in the third act. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/talk-to-me/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang 27 July 2023. The critic finds the film a viscerally effective supernatural thriller in which possession becomes a recreational addiction among teens, praising its emotional grounding in grief and the standout performance of Sophie Wilde as the troubled protagonist. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-07-27/talk-to-me-review-a24-horror-danny-michael-philippou) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 25 July 2023. The Philippou brothers deliver a terrific scary movie with wild punk energy and gleeful anarchy in their debut feature about suburban teens and an occult craze involving a creepy hand. The critic highlights the freaky, confrontational and hilariously crass tone alongside an undertow of pathos. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/25/talk-to-me-review-horror-michael-danny-philippou-creepy-hand) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 21 February 2023. Festival review. The critic praises the Philippou brothers' assured debut for its gut-wrenching thrills, intensity, and macabre inventiveness in possession scenes that tap into viral-video culture. It singles out the energetic supernatural mayhem and Sophie Wilde's performance while noting the script is thematically thin. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/talk-to-me-review-1235324674/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★☆. 28 July 2023. The Philippou brothers deliver a knockout horror debut that makes a corny concept fresh and vital for the social media age, with a gory masterclass in control and cine-literacy. Sophie Wilde is immense in the central role of a grieving daughter addicted to possession. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/talk-to-me-review-2lxtpp57c) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley 25 July 2023. The critic commends the full-blooded twist on horror lore and confident pacing, singling out Sophie Wilde's relatably anguished performance as the emotional anchor that elevates the film. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/talk-to-me-review-2023/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2023. The critic finds it a meticulously crafted, intensely terrifying horror experience with strong performances and chilling imagery that haunts long after viewing, though the story feels somewhat rushed in the final act. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a44611006/talk-to-me-review/) ## NME — Lou Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2023. The critic praises the fresh take on possession horror from the Philippou brothers, highlighting authentic teen characters, solid acting, and effective scares that stand out without excessive gore. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/talk-to-me-review-horror-3474833) ## The Skinny — Stefania Sarrubba Rating ★★★★. 24 July 2023. The critic hails it as a fresh, frightening Gen Z spin on possession horror that delivers an emotional punch on grief, though the final act suffers from vagueness in its logic and backstory. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/talk-to-me-review) ## Collider — Chase Hutchinson Rating 7/10. 25 January 2023. Festival review. The critic praises the gruesome, visceral possession sequences and Sophie Wilde's strong performance, but notes that some deeper ideas feel underdeveloped. It's a fun, brutal horror spectacle. [Read the review](https://collider.com/talk-to-me-review/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2023. The review discusses whether the film qualifies as 'elevated horror,' praising its craftsmanship, brutality, and craft while critiquing its reliance on trauma plots and conventional elements; it ultimately sees it as earning entry into the club through ambition. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2023/08/01/movies/talk-to-me-elevated-horror) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 6.5/10. 22 January 2023. Festival review. The Philippou brothers deliver a gross, funny and creepy horror that echoes Sam Raimi's Evil Dead with vivid effects and shocking violence. It loses some momentum after an early peak due to predictable and frustrating character choices, but the nasty scares keep it engaging. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1174670/talk-to-me-review-australian-teens-summon-angry-ghosts-in-this-evil-dead-like-horror-flick-sundance/) ## HeyUGuys — Daniel Goodwin Rating 3/5. 28 July 2023. The debut from the Philippou brothers is a well-produced possession horror with strong characters, performances, drama and gory scares. It stumbles in the second half due to muddled plotting and superfluous scenes but remains worth seeing for its originality and thrills. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/talk-to-me-review/) ## Deadline — Damon Wise 28 July 2023. Festival review. The critic calls the film unnerving and highly effective, praising its fresh take on possession tropes by portraying the occult as fun rather than purely moralistic. They single out the fantastically gory eruption of violence during a possession party as a highlight of the well-ratcheted build-up. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/07/sundance-review-danny-philippou-michael-philippou-talk-to-me-1235236606/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4 out of 5. 17 March 2023. Festival review. The critic calls it a chilling reinvention of the demonic possession film presented as a game among friends, with a natural and disturbing parable that culminates in one of the best brutal endings of the 2020s. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/talk-to-me-review-a24-horror-movie-ghost-story/) ## The Wrap — Tomris Laffly 26 July 2023. The critic finds the film promisingly spooky with genuine scares from a duo well-versed in horror, praising the cast and the filmmakers' command of eerie set pieces. They complain that the story meanders and the central idea is not fully supported by a finished narrative. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/talk-to-me-review-danny-michael-philippou/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/talk-to-me.md