I wrote that title and I meant it. In the end, I did feel this way about a few Sundance 2023 films, but given the order I watched them in, Michael and Danny Philippou's Talk To Me was the very first film to light a fire in me. One that signals we’ve found something special at this year’s festival, and one that had me running around Park City telling everyone they absolutely had to see it.
Talk to Me involves an embalmed hand that gives its wielder the opportunity to willingly become possessed by a spirit. The keepers of that hand are Hayley (Zoe Terakes) and Joss (Chris Alosio), and they organize parties/sessions where teens can essentially get a quick high by holding the hand, saying “talk to me,” and letting a spirit in for 90 seconds or less. If you dare stay connected for longer than that, you run the risk of the spirit staying.
Not only does Talk to Me feature a fascinating and hugely entertaining core concept, but the Philippou brothers have assembled a stellar ensemble, all delivering magnetizing characters and absolutely crushing their intense, supernatural-powered scenes. In addition to amassing a slew of rave reviews out of Sundance, Talk to Me also caught the eyes of the folks over at A24, which appears to have acquired the North American distribution rights to the film.
In celebration of Talk to Me's festival debut, the Philippou brothers, Terakes, Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, and Miranda Otto all visited the Collider Studio presented by Saratoga Spring Water in Park City to talk about their experience working on the Sundance standout.
Special thanks to our 2023 partners at Sundance including presenting partner Saratoga Spring Water and supporting partners Marbl Toronto, EMFACE, Sommsation, Hendrick’s Gin, Stella Artois, mou, and the all-electric vehicle, Fisker Ocean.
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