Talk To Me (2022): D.A.R.E. if it were effective
*Spoilers Ahead*
From the wonderfully twisted minds of Danny and Michael Philippou, first-time directors, twin brothers and creators of the popular YouTube channel RackaRacka, comes the viscerally disturbing blockbuster sensation Talk To Me. Together, these two exceptional creators were able to tell a story that has been overdone hundreds of times and flip it on its head, creating one of the most disturbing yet engaging movie-watching experiences I have ever had. Not only did this film scare me, but my reactions made those who walked past The Lamron headquarters as I watched stop in and ask if I was okay.
Regardless of the hype it is currently receiving, this film went under the radar upon release, debuting nearly a year ago on Oct. 30, 2022, solely for the Adelaide Film Festival. The film later generated interest and went on to get two rereleases, including an international release, which came on July 27, 2023, due to the exceptional qualities presented within this film: the practical effects, incredible performances, and, most notably, the storyline—the reason why I am here to talk about this superb film.
Now, you may ask yourself, what could be so good about this storyline, and what does it have to do with Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)? As a response to this hypothetical question, let’s get into the film’s basic plot.
The storyline of Talk To Me is very straightforward: We follow the life of Mia, played by Sophia Wilde, as she struggles to cope with the overdose of her mother, Rhea, played by Alexandria Steffenson, two years after she passed. The storyline follows Mia and her best friend Jade, played by Alexandra Jensen, as they go to a house party, encountering a new thrill they see on their phones: a sculpted hand that is a conduit for the dead. Now, that may be a wild statement, but bear with me.
This hand becomes a new thrill for our protagonist and several of her peers, all looking for something to take their minds off their lives. Mia comes to this pseudo-drug looking for a way to escape the depressing reality she lives in, and although never explicitly stated, we can assume similar reasons for those who partake with her. Although calming their minds, this temporary release leaves their bodies untethered from the physical world, and a spirit—good or evil—will eventually take hold. This hand sends the user into a purgatory-like space, allowing the uninhabited bodies to become temporarily possessed by the dead as long as contact remains constant; in exchange for temporary bliss, one opens their body to horrors beyond comprehension—very Lovecraftian!
So, if not already evident, this hand acts as our story’s substance stand-in, and any drug can be placed in its stead. I do not intend to claim that all drugs are bad; rather, this story deals with undertones of substance abuse, so because of that, we will talk about it as such.
Regardless of the precise means, substance abuse is an unconscious agreement with a conduit, allowing it to take hold of one’s being for a time, inducing internal bliss with side effects that may not become evident for some time. These side effects make us more dependent on the substance, continuing the cycle. This is what the Philippous want us to take away from this film; whether we realize it or not, these forms of escapism we hold onto, though hyperbolic, can be the worst things for us, and turn us into the worst versions of ourselves: for Mia, she lost herself, and for someone else, they suffered a fate worse than death.
The main takeaway from this film is that drug abuse is harmful, but the leading killer is why young people need to turn to these outlets. In the film, Mia is never given anywhere to turn to, excluding the limited capabilities of Jade and her family, so she sought a means of her own, the hand. Though we may think we know the outcome, like Mia, the result could lead one down a route they can never recover from.
The way the story acutely elaborates on its allegory for the common theme of substance abuse is beyond creative and deserves praise for its compelling nature. Additionally, everything about this film, from the gut-wrenching violence to the heartbreaking storyline, deserves credit; it is not a shock to see why this film has been picked up and distributed worldwide. The film has already been greenlit for a sequel, one month after its international release, which is already in production; if you’re anywhere as enthralled by this film as I am, this is fantastic news!
I recommend anyone who wants to look deeper into what I’m discussing in this article to see this fantastic film. It discusses subject material and sophisticated themes in a way that is impossible to tackle in just one article; if you want to know what I mean, you must watch it for yourself! You can watch Talk to Me in theaters worldwide; it is available for purchase via YouTube and Vudu TV and will be streaming soon on Paramount+ in their A24 Catalog!