Why Is TALK TO ME So Disturbing?

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ABOUT THE SHOW:
This show celebrates Ryan's love for genre, film, games, art and entertainment through personal retrospective analysis that aims to explore what made them so good or even misunderstood.
SOURCES:
Danny & Michael Philippou interview w/ Matt Grobar (Deadline, 2023): deadline.com/2023/07/talk-to-...
Danny & Michael Philippou interview w/ Alison Foreman (IndieWire, 2023): www.indiewire.com/features/in...
Danny & Michael Philippou interview w/ Andy Crump (New York Times, 2023): www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/mo...
Danny & Michael Philippou interview w/ Isaac Feldberg (RogerEbert.com, 2023): www.rogerebert.com/interviews...
Danny & Michael Philippou interview w/ Zak Wojnar (Screen Rant, 2023): screenrant.com/talk-to-me-mov...
MUSIC:
Icelandic Arpeggios by DivKid
Where Are My Clothes by The 129ers
Melancholia by Godmode
Forest Lullabye by Asher Fulero
Breakfast Alone by The Whole Other
Frost by HOVATOFF
Heartbeat of the Hood by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions
Martian Cowboy by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Thunder Dreams by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Beginning by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@RyanHollinger]

*What was the BEST horror film 2023? ... Let me know in the comments!* Go to buyraycon.com/ryan to get 20 to 50% off sitewide! Brought to you by Raycon.

[@boobootittleman7299]

I personally dug Scream 6 but I know people had problems with it. However, I’m just a huge scream fan.

[@solraczenatnof5853]

The Outwaters for me.

[@alifoton]

Evil Dead Rise. It was good, surprisingly.

[@franciscotorres9279]

"When Evil Lurks" from Argentina

[@sebastianhollmichel9566]

+1 on "When Evil Lurks" It's horrific. I have seen everything, as the most people here. And this IS horror. Especially unsettling for parents, because it does not hold back.

[@ItsGattsu]

My read on the movie was that Miya was possessed and haunted by the one-eyed drowned woman, not her mother. There are too many times where the movie focuses on the vision of her mother being drenched, having the same single cloudy eye, and surrounded by underwater sound motifs.

[@zHappyHour]

Yeah this is the correct interpretation, you can literally see her mom become the drowning woman throughout the movie. Ryan’s gotta give it a rewatch.

[@dboiswaggypants7611]

It took me a rewatch to realize this, its pretty obvious when you realize Mia was under the ritual the first time with the drowned lady for longer than 60 seconds before they blew the candle out.

[@a_Cynthia_Main]

So wait...he didn't know that wasn't actually her mother? I thought that was fairly obvious, but I'm speaking as someone who's rewatching this video because apparently I didn't pick up on the fact that he misinterpreted that key component. I was kind of cleaning while listening, so may have missed it. So imo I don't think she ever spoke to her mother. Drowned lady was still lingering in Mia's head because they didn't end the ritual quickly enough with her. Therefore the bad spirit had access to all her bad memories and regrets and knew how to get to her. Also, wasn't sure about this, did she throw herself in traffic or did her friend push her to save Riley?

[@agraciotti]

I agree this is probably the right reading of the film, although I dont blame Ryan because I also missed it on my first watch. I usually like open and ambiguous endings, but I think this is a rare occasion it should have been established a bit more clear.

[@betasector]

Yeah, but you are wrong.

[@RoseEyed]

Going further into your analysis on connection and drug use: Exploring the drug was fun until it suddenly wasn't. And everyone was so concerned about one friend's bad "trip" that they didn't notice the other friend's quietly building addiction until it was too late. Similar to how you may not realize the college friend who likes to "party" is becoming an alcoholic. There's a ton of Mia's out there we don't know about suffering in silence or who may not even know they're suffering themselves.

[@Scarshadow666]

Sadly (and scarily) true! 0_0 And it can be something that's said for any kind of addiction too, including the more "socially-accepted" or socially-integrated addictions, like the Internet or coffee/sugar. A lot of the times when I look up Internet and social media addiction (as someone that struggles with KZbin addiction), I often see a lot of people saying they they were able to get rid of their Instagram/Twitter/Facebook apps, but stick with KZbin because it either isn't as detrimental to their mental health in their experience or because they see it as more educational/lesser of evils. All while forgetting KZbin is also a form of social media as well, and has features in it that are built to make viewers addicted just as much as any social media does... 0_0

[@unhallowed45]

The demonic spirits in this film were quite impressive. The glimpses of them in their realm all fully nude and acting like wild dogs was quite unsettling.

[@crizmeow8394]

Apparently those scenes weee filmed to be much longer but I think they work in glimpses masterfully. I would like to see the full cut tho, reminds me of the event horizon hell scenes.

[@BthIX]

I interpreted that scene as showing literal Hell. That's where all the spirits resided and where they were trying to keep Riley

[@kingbash6466]

Felt really bad for Riley. My probably the most innocent character in the film, yet he probably suffers the most all because he didn't know any better. Despite how bleak the ending is, at least the silver lining is that he didn't die.

[@knightwing1294]

The spirit wasn't Mia's mom, it was that drowned spirit that attached itself to her. Which is why as the movie went along she got more and more wet. Also Mia deffiently was pushed into traffic by her friend to save her brother no way Mia was in the right mindspace to realize how she was messing stuff up.

[@IamPussy]

"more and more wet" 😋

[@starwarsnerd100]

Eh, right when the drowned ghost said that "he'll be ours" you can see Mia visibly react and take her hands off of the wheelchair. It's definitely ambiguous but I don't know how the hell you can say there's "no way" Mia didn't realize.

[@donalddavis7423]

I think Mia threw herself into traffic to try and be with her mom.

[@Branferd]

@@starwarsnerd100if you watch it back frame by frame you can see Jade pushing Mia off of the bridge. She let go of the wheelchair but at that point it didn’t matter anymore.

[@janus2773]

@@Branferd honestly that makes the ending worse for me. i originally thought mia killed herself, and while that's horrible and tragic and a dick move to the people in the car, at least its a moment of agency where she decides her own fate away from the spirits and peer pressure. frame by frame you are right, through the cars windshield you can see jade run down the hill and push mia into the road. sucks for the drivers all the same, jade has now killed her best friend and didn't even save her brother. the way mia let go of the wheelchair clearly indicated that she wasn't gonna push him, it had come to a full stop and was not gonna roll onto the street. in this version, mia only makes the choice to leave riley alive. at least it was implied that riley was gonna be fine. also, if mia stands right behind the wheel chair, how does jade push mia into the street without the wheelchair? did she just enable noclip??

[@beebalmbadil]

there are a lot of clues that the spirit was NEVER Mia's mother but was the drowned woman all along (the wet sound effects and the appearance of Mia's mom that isn't related to the way she died, but more related to drowning, and the drowned woman seems to struggle with her ability to sustain the illusion). and it works with the canon of the rules of length of time of possession-- the drowned lady has had access to her this whole time. You totally nailed the thing about Mia craving attention and its connections to the events here. And you say it really well. Fwiw, the filmmakers have, in spite of their commitment to keep it a secret, revealed that the hand, primarily, is about connection. I think the connection thing makes sense. a huge driving force of addiction (or, at least, its beginning stages) is numbing the pain of isolation

[@juliadco]

I thought the ending was pretty straightforward, and Mia trying to kill Riley at the end definitely didn’t come out of nowhere. Already at Mia’s first possession the spirit was saying that “they wanted Riley, they would get him”. When Riley gave in and allowed himself to be possessed, the spirit took advantage of Mia’s presence and pretended to be her mother, knowing she would want to keep the spirit longer and possibly go over 90 seconds (thus allowing the spirit to linger on Riley). That’s exactly what happened and then the spirit begins to immediately try to kill Riley to take his soul forever (if he died in that state the spirits would have him). Mia was constantly taken advantage of because she was in a broken mental state and had also gone a little over 90 seconds on her first possession, allowing the spirits to now torment her. But their final goal was always to kill Riley, so they try to use Mia for that. By pretending to be her mother telling her to put Riley out of his misery, because he was being tortured by the spirits while alive in that state. The kangaroo “foreshadowing” was precise. She even had that little seed planted in her of the time she couldn’t put a being out of its misery and that had disturbed her deeply. It was inevitable that she would be used to get to Riley, and it’s tragic to watch all that unfold in such a terrifying and compelling way. I was clenching my boyfriend’s arm throughout the whole second half, I felt so much for Mia and those around her (except her father, you’re right, we didn’t get much from him). Also the lack of jump scares just improves the whole experience so freaking much, I’ll always praise any filmmaker for that.

[@deanscordilis7280]

I see the “incomplete” ending as an extrapolation on the lack of closure death seems to come with. Or it could just be that the brothers wanted a punchy, bleak ending akin to something like The Descent.

[@MarthaMcCrum]

The bleak ending in The Descent imo was very haunting and stayed with me for a while. Perfect too somehow

[@torodeluz]

My favorite part was Joe Bird. His scenes were hard to watch and heartbreaking. Hope the kid has a big career ahead of him.

[@Ashtree28]

Agreed! He completely blew me away, I think he was a standout among some other very strong actors, especially being so young!

[@dianasofia6641]

I actually dont think Mia jumped, but rather her friend pushed her! I think we can see that scene for a split second. And as for the spirit, it was not her mother, it was the drowning lady trying to manipulate her. Such a good movie, and such a good video Ryan!

[@Kourinthia]

I agree. I saw this film in theaters and assumed she was pushed and didn't jump. It just felt like she had only paused but hadn't made up her mind to really stop until it was too late and Jade pushed her. Even if it wasn't intentionally.

[@onyxhades9513]

Same here

[@Gen_Is_Sus]

Yup you can pause it and see she was pushed

[@slimkt]

Yeah, you can see Jade pushing Mia into the street, but it’s like a single frame and it’s shot through the car’s windshield, so I can understand why a lot of people didn’t catch it. And I think you still get a similar sentiment about Mia realizing the spirit’s influence when she lets go of the wheelchair, even if she doesn’t voluntarily sacrifice herself and is instead pushed. In fact, it makes it even more tragic knowing that both Riley and Mia could’ve possibly survived, with neither trapped in the spirit realm, if it weren’t for a split-second decision.

[@unavoidablycanadian397]

​@@slimktthank you for pointing out that scene about her being pushed!

[@graveyardgxblin]

I was really taken-aback by the scene when Riley uses the hand. It was all so sudden, even though you could see it coming. Like a car crash.

[@DREADDWELLER]

Speaking of car crash, his scene with the hand really made me think of the car accident in Hereditary. The shocking burst of violence where you just sit in uncomfortable silence afterwards, processing what just happened. Not many horror movies have given me that feeling, and both of these are among my favourites because of it

[@bobinasack]

​@@DREADDWELLERI drew the came parallels to hereditary with that scene! Left me feeling very similar after both scenes.

[@alexanderthealright]

@@DREADDWELLER Watching that scene for the first time made me straight up disassociate, it was so deeply uncomfortable. The ratcheting tension until brutal, climactic collision, followed by a numbing quiet that lets you stew and makes you process what just happened. Well executed on both counts.

[@Logitah]

What really hit me was the exploitation of the grieving and the lost. The ghosts found someone who's vulnerable enough to just..pull in. 😢

[@maggyfrog]

this is a horror trope though. not even remotely new, nor the selling point of the movie. the more you watch possession movies, the more common this trope is.

[@Logitah]

@@maggyfrog Uuuhhh....So? It just hit me! Doesn't have to be the point of the movie, because I perceive art my own way.

[@maggyfrog]

@@Logitah relax, i was just pointing out that it's quite a common trope and not at all what stands out as the interesting bits of this particular movie. i get that you like it, but if not for the decent acting of the actress, this part of the movie is actually generic

[@Logitah]

@@maggyfrog why did you feel the need to tell me that? It doesn't really change anything.

[@maggyfrog]

@@Logitah this is a comments section about the movie, is it not? why are you wondering about the fact someone has a different take on it than you? you know this is how commenting works, right? people agree, people disagree, and so on. are you really astonished that somebody else has a somewhat different opinion than you?

[@TicTacPilgrim]

The passing of time in the space between where the ghosts inhabit must be what drives them insane. Each ghost could have likely just died from their perspective and suddently these kids are using them as party favors, where they then wait for eons to pass until the next kid wants a hit. It's close to The Jaunt in that respect.

[@ABLEARC]

I see someone else saw Quinns video today lol

[@luqmanilyas2005]

can you link that channel i want to watch the video about this :) @@ABLEARC

[@deathman0111]

@@luqmanilyas2005Quinn’s ideas, great channel

[@luqmanilyas2005]

@@deathman0111 thanks

[@dontgivetwothwips3615]

Mia figured out, just before pushing the chair into traffic, that it was the drowned spirit that was masquerading as her dead mother. Unfortunately it was too late and Jade pushed her in front of the car saving Riley. I think it’s to show just how much damaged Mia had done to her relationships. When she finally realized how bad things were it was too late to fix things and her friend cut her loose permanently.

[@dontgivetwothwips3615]

Wanted to add: The ending was so tragic because while we saw what drove Mia to that moment at the road, and her momentary clarity, everyone else in her life just wrote her off and moved on. From their perspective she was just a crazy girl who was the catalyst of all their problems. She’s now left voiceless and trapped in perpetual loneliness with no chance of redemption.

[@burgbgm4]

I definitely don't think the spirit was her mother because the implication was that the danger came from the spirits that were in the hand, so to speak. I'd assume her mother was not one of those. I'm in the camp that it was the drowned lady the whole time (Mia also went over on time her first trip), which is why it slowly got more bloated and wet. Riley stopped using the hand after he was possessed but Mia didn't. Also, they apparently read your mind when you let them in, hence it taking the appearance of her mother. I'm also in the same camp that says she didn't jump into traffic, she was pushed.

[@biospark4758]

There’s also water sounds when Mia’s mother appears to her

[@theengine]

Yeah, it's not. The implication is that the drowned woman she sees the first time is following her because she also went slightly over the time limit. The mom becomes more and more drowned as the movie goes.

[@ellyelly7235]

I 100% agree. I thought it was pretty well implied that Jade pushed her.

[@burgbgm4]

@@ellyelly7235 yeah I think with Jade finding Mia's dad and then seeing what she saw, paired with how confused Mia was when she "woke up" points to Jade panicking and shoving her

[@6alcantara]

​​@@ellyelly7235not only implied, you can see it, though it's not that clear as it happens very fast and out of focus.

[@KomoliRihyoh]

Two points I disagree upon: 1) It was implied that the spirit Mia talks to was never her mother. The spirit Mia let in at the beginning was a wet, bloated, drowned woman, and it was said that the spirits could change their appearance and could possibly read the possessee's mind, figuring out her Mom called her "Mi." As the movie goes on, Mia's "Mom" becomes covered in more water and starts to bloat, looking more like the drowned woman. The spirits knew Riley's body would soon detox them out, so the drowned spirit manipulated Mia to kill him to trap him in Limbo forever. 2) I don't think Mia threw herself into traffic. If you go frame by frame at the end when the camera switches to the car's perspective, you can see Jade running very fast down to Mia and Riley. Jade saw Mia about to push Riley into traffic, and already knew she (tried to) kill her dad, so she likely simply reacted and pushed Mia away. The tragedy here is that at that moment, Mia realized she was being manipulated by the spirits and decided *not* to kill Riley, but Jade didn't know that, and killed Mia even though she no longer a threat, trapping her in Limbo since the spirits were still possessing her. Mia finally wised up, but it didn't matter in the end.

[@gracie_bex]

I saw the film in theatres and haven’t rewatched it since, but if I remember correctly, right before Mia decides to jump instead of pushing Riley onto the road, the demon in the form of Mias mother says “I’ll take care of Riley.” My interpretation of the reason Mia changed her mind at the last minute was because that’s what Mia wanted for herself, for her mother to take care of her again.

[@FiercelyGold]

I didn't think about it that way but that makes sense. I've been in a broken mental state before and one grasps at straws when they're broken. She just stabbed her dad so she probably thinks she has nothing to live for beyond trying to do right by Riley and his family. In the last second it didn't feel right but she was under so much pressure so she threw herself. Or maybe even the ghost (while giving her a nice shoulder massage) nudged her forward, When it was clear she was not going to push Riley. My assumption is that every soul connected to the hand is cursed after playing the game because they couldn't stop and they got swayed into killing themselves. Maybe the original psychic was trapping Souls in return for their power and someone got the idea to cut off their hand to stop it but it didn't work. I assume there were many desperate acts caused by this hand.

[@evilempireproductions879]

No, in the last moment the “ghost of Mia’s mom” said something about the spirits “having him forever” which caused Mia to realize that it was the original malevolent spirit that possessed her and not her mother, as the evil spirit had made that comment to Mia during the initial possession.

[@slayer45670]

100% her fear was being alone, and she wanted her mom who already abandoned her, and she became more alone and alone. Until she she got exactly what she was afraid of in the afterlife. It’s truly haunting

[@CorbCorbin]

@@evilempireproductions879 Exactly. The movie really isn’t written well enough, as I see so many misinterpret what is happening, in various moments, disregarding things we learn in the way, because her entire investigation into the hand, is just forgotten, as if she was already to hooked on her mom staying around. I see people say she’s possessed, but the filmmakers made it clear in two interviews I’ve seen, that Mia is making her own decisions, whether based on the hallucinations or to keep seeing mom. The ending was no different. It’s another writing issue I have. Why put him there? The only reason would be to setup her running towards him, so people think she’s still going after him, only to end up putting herself into the spirit world.

[@sjc4]

Interesting!

[@Backwards_Buddha]

If I remember correctly, there was a throw away line during the first or second possession that alluded to the spirits gaining total control of the body if they get the host to commit suicide or die. It seems to me that in the end the spirit inside Mia managed to win when she got hit. The ending seemed like Mia was now trapped in the hand and the spirit took over her body, possibly still out there undead

[@BambiLena666]

Yes, at the first possession they explain it cant go longer than 90 seconds and that if you die while they are inside they will "have you forever". Which seems to imply its related to having their soul, our does it also mean they get control of the body and get to "stay" among the living, its not explained in detail. Tho weirdly enough I didnt really consider Mia being the one thats possessed since everything that she was being told and shown by the spirit/demon whatever it was, basically kept pushing her to kill the kid, not herself, and killing their host is the only way to get them. I honestly just assumed they accidentally stumbled on some sort of a demon type ghost this time, because the ghost that possessed the kid seemed to be able to shape shift. Unless we are assuming that the ghosts somehow work together? Since all the ghosts basically told her to kill the boy and that this will save him, even though we were explicitly told this is how they "get you forever". For me the ending felt really open ended, because nothing was really concluded or solved.

[@TrupimOkiemTV]

now that's fucking grim

[@6alcantara]

Yeah, they mentioned that if they went longer the spirits would want to stay, which was what happened to both Mia and Riley, and that if they died they would stay trapped forever, which was what happened to Mia in the end and what the drowned lady was trying to do to Riley by manipulating Mia using her feelings about the death of her mother.

[@Spicie95]

I think the spirits always intended to take Mia, after she held the hand for those extra seconds. They found someone grief-stricken, whom they could easily manipulate and then waited for an opportunity to claim her. When Riley took the hand, they used him to get to her, giving her hope she could talk to her mother and tricking her into thinking that Riley was stuck in a purgatory (like the Further from Insidious), so they could remove her completely from Jade, Sue, and Max. In the end, she sees everyone moving on without her, proving to her spirit that she really was unimportant to the world, as her own personal hell. Also, Jade probably pushed her to save Riley...

[@ignorealiensorders666]

RakaRaka killed it! It literally gave me chills. They blew it out the water. So refreshing and can’t wait to see more from them!

[@jessicasingh6892]

I loved Talk to Me! It was such a hauntingly beautiful film, and the ending gave me chills! Have you ever seen They Look Like People? It’s one of my most favorite horror movies, and I think it addresses mental illness well, especially in a genre that so often fumbles it

[@merchantfan]

Yeah I thought the ending of They Look Like People was really interesting

[@unhallowed45]

Underrated movie for sure.

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

I love when a horror really FULLY commits to the extended allegory, while staying engaging or entertaining regardless. Talk To Me just felt very authentic, like the montage of them all partying with the hand, such a perfect portrayal of the teenage mindset

[@officerwaifu6408]

My favorite part of the ending was the father getting into the elevator and going *up,* suggesting he died and went to heaven whereas Mia is stuck in the purgatory that led to her downfall.

[@stewartcedres3893]

He didn’t die. 😂

[@concanthandleme]

Those psa driving commercials genuinely messed me up a bit. I still have vivid memories of one where a girl is pinned to the side railing of a high by a car with her dead boyfriend next to her, and I think the insinuation in the video was she was there for a long time before being rescued

[@LawlSpiderNoob]

so I've been semi-avoiding this film because my mom recently passed away in a very traumatic way. BUT I love watching your videos, so I figured screw it, I wanna hear your thoughts. and you put grief and loneliness into words, and I've struggled for the last year and a half on how to speak those words about my own grief, but you really put it in perspective for me! So thank you Ryan! I appreciate how thoughtful your videos are, keeping doing what makes you happy! 😊

[@Scarshadow666]

I give the Philippou brothers a lot of credit on how they show people can fall into peer pressure, and they do it way better than old drug PSAs do. The scary and sad thing is that, when it comes to a lot of addictions in general, it's often because people are trying to fill in something that they feel they're missing and/or for coping with something. And it's something that's more and more easily common as people struggle with genuine connections to each other, either due to the Internet/social media or due to something else. As someone that has mild social anxiety and trust/vulnerability issues, human connection is one of the hardest things to get (and in my experience, to give when you are too scared to)... 0_0

[@ronoc9]

My one criticism is in the end, where they show the hand being used again in a different country, I kind of wish it was "the other hand" they suggested was out there as well.

[@aliasfakename3159]

Assuming every ghost we see is a victim of the Hand, Mia's mom presumably never used the Hand so she couldn't be contacted

[@JamesMathurin]

I read some stuff differently to you. They mention that dying while possessed traps you with the spirits, so there can only be a sinister reason For Mya's mum to tell her to kill Riley. Of course, it seems unlikely that it is her Mum; the spirits are said to be able to impersonate others, and "Mum" directly contradicts what the suicide note says.

[@toryslapper69]

Watched this with a friend and noticed a lot of heroin related symbolism, most notably the use of a tightly wound belt and a flame in the rituals. I think the drug use parallels carried quite well throughout the film

[@pennplayz]

This was one of the most refreshing and haunting horror films ive seen in a while. Despite its shorter runtime, it manages to pull off a slow pace very well and it definitely fits the movie. The Philippou brothers have proven they understand what makes good horror and i eagerly await what is next

[@jasonblundelldobebussing]

Another movie breaks Ryan - you gotta eat more carrots, man. Are you physically broken now? But how come! Can you be repaired then or something. Eracting a dispenser.

[@WhaleManMan]

Why BROKE TO ME Talk Me

[@nicholasbarao3358]

Talk to me was really fun to see in the theaters, it was fun seeing everyone’s reactions

[@lalababayaga]

This movie shook me, but I see it less as anti-drug PSA, and more about inherited mental illness and the psychological patterns that repeat across generations. I kind of see the whole spirit-drug thing more as like a shared delusion amongst the kids and kind of read Mia as someone dealing with psychosis rather than literal demon possession. She needs to believe her mom is out there as some lost soul that can possess her friend to deal with her grief, to the point where she deals with her psychotic depression in the same way as her mother.

[@vividesu9943]

i believe her mother was never the ghost, just the drown woman signified by the water audio every time her mother was on screen, and the way she slowly deteriorates into a melting, watery mess as mia gets deeper and deeper into mania. and since they set up that the ghosts can see your memories and know everything about you after being inside of you.. i also believe jade was the one who pushed her, not that she jumped. there seemed like a frame or so of jade running up at full speed, and if you pause it looks a bit like she pushed her, though it happened so quickly i guess it was meant to make you wonder.

[@DDfan91]

I was not expecting this movie to stick with me as long as it did. And I'm really glad I watched this movie during the day because some of those scenes were bit too much for me.

[@hollandscottthomas]

The reverse-let-me-in scene with the little girl ghost 😬

[@DDfan91]

@@hollandscottthomas That and the little brother attempting to take his eyeball out and bashing his head in. 🤢🤢

[@hollandscottthomas]

@@DDfan91 ooof, yeah, the brothers really brought a shocking amount of violence to the table, so to speak 😅

[@DDfan91]

@@hollandscottthomas I legit had to cover my eyes when that happened.

[@wstine79]

This was an interesting horror film. And I am well aware of the Canada and Irish PSA videos. Especially the electrocution one.

[@lyihz2177]

I really liked this film and its ambiguous ending. I have watched it a few times and have had different interpretations of the ending. Mia seemed like she lost the battle of recovery so her two outcome would have been either jail (considering if she had gone through pushing Riley and the 'attempted murder of her dad) or death (what happened). At times of re-watching it also looks like Jade pushed her. It was interesting that the movie plays with idea that when you have fallen too deep the consequence can be become more blurred, hence the blurry perspective of what actually happened in the final moments. Did she jump or was she pushed? This made it feel a bit more tragic, real and sympathetic for Mia, at least for me it did.

[@HeatherHolt]

Gah now I’m thinking of my exs brother who tried ecstasy at 15 and choked on his own vomit, he didn’t die but he’s forever mentally altered to the point he can’t take care of himself in any way. Not a vegetable but close enough. It was so sad, he was just a dumb kid wanting to experiment.

[@tedioustotoro4885]

I watched this movie as one of the last things in my horror marathon this year and, honestly, it’s my second favourite movie I’ve seen this year (behind Nimona) because I absolutely adored how personal the story was.

[@lilchuuwuu]

Yaaaasss Ryan!!! I’ve been wanting you to talk about this soooo bad. ❤❤❤

[@Queefersutherland97]

This was the movie my girlfriend and I went and seen on our first date so this movie will always have a special place in my heart

[@sarahharrison5419]

Me and my boyfriend just saw this Monday. It genuinely surprised us. It was great!!! The acting from everyone was stellar 😊

[@erinrogers7440]

The entire movie is just a allegory for drug addiction. In the beginning its fun and helps you forget your troubles and makes you feel good. Then as the addiction takes hold you can't give it up and it starts lying to you. You then start to not understand reality and what the drug wants you to see and experience, ultimate leading you to your demise. Every step of drug addiction mimics exactly what Mia goes through all the way to her death. Its a great movie and a cautionary tale about drug culture.

[@scottbruckner4653]

Honestly I like the ending because it's Real. A lot of people don't win in their battles with their demons and throw themselves into the abyss in an attempt to sever themselves from their demons. Whether it's a Gun in an office chair, or throwing yourself into traffic or on train tracks it's all the same gritty end.

[@stevennicgorski1657]

Spoiler The way I saw it, Mia got pushed by her friend in an attempt to save her brother. So Mia spared the boy, snapped out of her "drug trip", but still got punished for her actions

[@Junji_Seishin]

I’m usually pretty behind when it comes to horror movies these days, and your videos are perfectly set up so I can still feel included. Thank you for your hard work !

[@Arcananine77]

Have you seen the Fear Street trilogy? I watched it a few weeks ago and while I wouldn't call it a classic, it's a pretty interesting set of movies that combines different kinds of horror into an overall satisfying whole.

[@MoxieMcMurder]

I really don't think Mia's mother possessed anyone. It's the drowned woman she contacted when she held the hand at the beginning of the film, it's just taking on Mia's mothers guise.

[@neil8642]

I'm pretty sure Jade actually pushed Mia into the traffic. If you slow the shot down, in the blurred background you can see Jade running right up to Mia and practically throwing her off Riley. She was clearly more concerned about Riley in the aftermath and showed little concern for Mia. That's what it looked like to me, anyway.

[@janinebelleestrada7096]

Well at that point Mia is already coocoo bananas in everyone's eyes

[@kingsleycy3450]

Surely one of the themes is toxic connections right. The human friends and the evil spirits both exploit Mia for their benefits. Mia craves connections wherever she can get it, but connections can be toxic

[@xChikyx]

That's not even Mia's mom. I also dont think Mia killed herself alone, but the other girl managed to tackle and stop riley going into the street while mia just couldnt stop and died.

[@orchidrose1410]

I absolutely loved Talk to Me!! It was completely refreshing, horrifying, emotional roller coaster ride of a film! It was the first time in a very long time that I genuinely enjoyed a horror movie! The script was flawless, acting, on point and it emotionally pulled me in and made me jump a few times too!! 😂 I can honestly say for the first time in decades a horror film got a 10/10 from this cynical horror buff!!

[@florealecat]

i don't have much to add. the ending's abruptness hit me like a gut punch, but it was so well done i can't help but add this to my ever expanding list of favorite horror movies thank you for taking the time to talk about this movie. great video as always!

[@snakefang1123]

It's actually a new take on the concept of the Ouija Board, mixed with the points you made. Modern day spiritualism. And this is coming directly from the creators mouths. As someone who loves Ouija and the history and stigma behind it throughout the years, this seemed like a refreshing take on the concept of it and the whole spiritulaist movement as a whole. It was seen as a past time then and a social media challenge/trend now. Anyone remember the same thing happened in real life with Charlie Charlie?

[@jamiepalmer6452]

Great video Ryan! I definitely enjoyed Talk to Me and will watch the sequel when it comes out. I am also of the camp that the mom ghost was the drowned lady ghost from the beginning in disguise.

[@miguelborrell798]

Amazing job as always Ryan!!!!! I’ve been a big fan of yours for like 3 or 4 years now, and I really appreciate your work. 🎉🎉🎉

[@zombieb8]

My interpretation of the ending was that having the spirit, taking the form of Mia's deceased mother, say that she would take care of Riley, Mia threw herself into traffic so she could be with her mother. Mia had already shown that she trusted her mother above everything evidenced when she stabbed her father because the spirit told her he was an imposter, and leaving him for dead.

[@jodieg6318]

I find it ironic, or maybe not so much when I think about it, that a movie that tackles themes of drug addiction, technology, and social disconnection among young people in a sympathetic rather than condescending way, it's a horror film.

[@Eriko-cy7iy]

Actually good horror movies do a great job of having social commentary once you look past the jump scares.

[@wylon87]

Damn Ryan. I choked on my tea when you showed those drunk driving psas.

[@electricbluetiramisu3713]

You must not be from around these parts (UK) I was sipping mine and waiting for the “if you hit me at 40mph” girl to sit up on screen

[@ricardomiles2957]

7:04 Makes sense. We are way beyond the times smartphones and social media were a new thing and only boomers talked about. At this point movies that are set in the "modern times" must show people interacting with social media and screens to make it look believable, not showing is like making a movie set in 50's where people don't smoke.

[@bassicchip6612]

So glad you're covering this one🫱🫲

[@Jubilationcreation]

I personally think that yes, Mia could have jumped or that she was pushed by Jade trying to save her brother. It gives two very different endings. And I fully believe it was the drowned women all along, that Mias mom was never there.

[@TNTales]

My take on the film was definitely the drug metaphor but I took from it that "drugs aren't necessarily bad but if you're in a bad place mentally it's very easy for it to take over and end your life." The same is true with the lack of human connection. I also do not believe the spirit she contacted was her mother.

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

6:15 - 6:19 I'll start using that as a symbolism clip 15:30 very Event Horizon-esque

[@vsauce4678]

Who are these people who don't like this movie it's fun funny heart breaking and scary and gory. Its got way more than an average horror movie and is at least a great first watch

[@joevlam1055]

I wouldnt say I don't like it upon a few more times viewing it I feel after Riley attempts to bash his head in at the hospital it loses momentum to me for some reason. Not a bad movie at all by any means

[@LucasDimoveo]

Can you imagine that in the world of the SCP verse the hand would be considered “safe”? Ffs. All it would take is to put this thing in a box and guard it (or hide it). But once used it is a terror. And of course people would use the hand like the way it is used in the film

[@NightWolf4223]

I still have yet to see this one and i really really want to. The fact that this film seems from what i heard is a breath of fresh in the whole ghost Genre. I cant to finally see it gunna buy it

[@MissVitticeps]

Hi Mr Hollinger, I just finished watching Talk To Me upon your recommendation, what a thrill. Best suspense i've had for a long time, thankyou!

[@LucyLioness100]

I remember being so confused what this movie was about when the poster first arrived. Then when I saw a review about it, I finally figured out what it was a horror film & was curious. I don’t regret seeing it, but man it’s brutal and not for the faint of heart

[@fuchsiasprig]

Really great analysis! I'd love to see you take a look at Sissy - it's another Australian horror film from late last year that has some distinct similarities in terms of themes.

[@moongod5013]

I saw it twice in theatres by happenstance. Talk to Me was, in my opinion, a fantastic example of how horror can act as a vehicle for deeper human commentary. It was great.

[@liss-7067]

I do get what you mean with the forced moments and it feeling incomplete. I don't think Smile is a fair comparison though, Smile always felt quite lazy and exploitative, particularly around mental health. I felt Talk To Me at least tried to be more thoughtful than that. Also, even forced at the end, I do think it's a genuine hoot of a film with characters I cared about.

[@sVieira151]

How dare you remind me of those drink driving PSAs😂 I also have those dramatised 'safety' videos ingrained in my brain as well.

[@taurinstraiter2325]

So much new stuff. Are you going to go back to the 2000s and review "EDEN LAKE (2008)" anytime soon? That movie when you see it is definitely worth material for your type of videos. I'm surprised it still hasn't happened yet.

[@taurinstraiter2325]

@LeeClaxton Any Source? I found that hard to believe but If there's a video where he said it then alright

[@luvstrukkandbroken]

I’ve never been this early, and I’m so excited to watch this video…..as soon as I’m out of the grocery store😆

[@yungskeleton-wotvffbe8939]

I'm not sure if you're into video games, but I'd love to see you cover Fear and Hunger and its sequel. They're quite extreme games (in all senses you can imagine) and made with a supremely low budget. You'd probably enjoy at least reading about it and maybe seeing watching some videos too.

[@lepusrex3880]

Awesome video, man. Love your work!

[@sjc4]

I thought the ending made sense, actually, and I don't think the sacrifice bit fits. At that point Mia is so broken psychologically and drowning in grief that I don't think push or jump matters. The most impactful part of the ending is her ending up in that in between place stuck in her grief and trauma and all alone in the dark. Her nightmare has come true. Terrifying. Would like to hear about what ending others think would fit better, though.

[@LatchkeyGothboy]

I have more questions about this movie. That hand has history. Thanks, Ryan!

[@Keldoh3ad]

When Evil Lurks takes that spot. Really good year for horror films.

[@julesrules7297]

I respectfully disagree with your opinion on the ending, i loved how bleak it was. I was genuinely upset.

[@BthIX]

I definitely interpreted the ending as the Father Karras sacrifice. The spirits wanted her to kill Riley because it stated in the movie that if you die while possessed, they keep your soul. Mia was told by the spirit posing as her mother that she needed to kill Riley as an act of mercy and so she was caught between these. In the end she realized that it wasn't actually her mom but she'd continue to be tormented and tricked into killing Riley just like she did to her father that the only way to save him was to sacrifice herself so that the spirits could no longer use her body.

[@ghost-nd1fp]

I know that most people didn't feel this way, but this movie was way more personal for me, the grief mia feels mirrors a lot of my own (my family has a deep relationship with suicide like minimum 1 a year not joking) like the only thing I felt during this movie was a deep deep grief and sympathy for someone who would never feel closure or just anything, someone who succumbed to the "end" and I cried so much for her charcter wishing I could show them how great love could be

[@ghost-nd1fp]

Mia's loneliness was also my own, as someone who has RAD, an immigrant mother and zero family in the country I exist in, I cried for hours after this film, it made me feel so many things. I hope I get to see the actress again in the future, hopefully in less painful roles.

[@moondog548]

fwiw I had the same take-away as you on the ending. The brother is mercifully saved, but the sister is tragically lost to the "demons" of addiction. I think the fact that it is all kind of perfunctory by that point... resonates.

[@bisquino8289]

My idea on the movie is that was definitely not her mom by any means, the spirits in the hand are trapped there and it would make no sense for her mom to be there, not to mention her mother died in her sleep why would she look like she has the same wounds as the drowned women, from the very beginning they were manipulating her to trap her with them

[@Tehbestestevasss]

Its crazy you don't even mention the theory that it isnt her mother that Mia sees, it is the drowned bloated corpse from her original possession taking her form. The clues supporting this is her "mother" always appearing wet and water coming from her mouth, and then slowly as the movie goes on she gets more and more bloated. Go watch the final scene with Mia and her mother and look at her face. It is way more bloated than she ever saw her. Changes a LOT of the movie when you realize its an evil ghost trying to get her to do what she told her to do

[@gillianlangtree9203]

Aussie 90s kid here, we absolutely have the same type of PSA ads here and I can still see most of the cigarette packages no one around me smokes anymore so I don't know they're still there

[@LovelyPariah]

Hyped to watch this!!

[@nearlyinfinitetortoise8308]

Been watching since your video on the Scooby Doo films. Very Much enjoy your content!

[@longstrangetrip9920]

I watched this film just two nights ago as I also wasn’t buying into the hype but MAN did this film surprise me! Super psychologically disturbing and shocking. Though not perfect, they managed to execute it in a way that feels refreshing. I took the ending as the spirits Mia and Riley let in were manipulating her the entire time even pretending to be her mother to get her to push Riley, if you slow the shot down too you can see Jade catches up to them and is the one who pushed Mia, the ending set the tone perfectly to part 2 in my opinion. Very fun to watch as a horror junkie!

[@rachelm8622]

I haven't kept up with newer horror movies lately, but I still love watching all your analysis videos. You put so much time and energy into these and it really shows. I love your dedication and ways you interpret different films. Keep up the great work! P.S. Have you seen Nightbreed??

[@shanejohnson6855]

Finally! Been waiting

[@joevlam1055]

This is a great analogy to drug addiction. As a Former heroin/fentanyl / coke/ crack addict i did appreciate their portrayal of it. Dealt with many rileys who died after fent hit the scene or short after and i myself slipped further into it while all my piece of shit "friends" encouraged it and then turned on me once i startled spiraling just like the initial too cool for anyone lesbian girl is.

[@CaulkMongler]

I feel like critiquing Mia as clingy and needy is ignoring the fact that she was only ever close to her mother while her father was more estranged and only recently reaching out to try and bond. She lost her number one person. She’s surrounded by people who pretend to care but would just as quickly record her unhealthy coping mechanisms for the internet to see. She desperately wants to feel cared for, of course she’s going to be needy.

[@Cinna316]

I LOVED your interpretation of the movie. You're one of my favorite youtubers for a reason 👏👏

[@andrecarpenter2432]

I don’t think it was the spirit of the mother but rather the drowned lady looking like her mother

[@Syurtpiutha]

The ending felt a bit weak to me. That being said, because The Exorcist got brought up a bit: I recently watched The Exorcist: Part III (Legion) and I was surprised at how good it was. I wish more sequels would take the approach that did.