What we flagged
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Our take
Talk to Me is an adult supernatural horror film about grieving teenagers who use an embalmed hand to invite spirits into their bodies. The thrill turns brutal, with graphic self-harm, a shocking injury to a young teen, and sustained dread. Strong language is heavy, and there is teen drinking, smoking, and talk of cannabis. We put it at 16 and up for viewers who can handle intense horror and harm to young people.
Uplifting themes
Buried under the horror is a warning about chasing numbness and ignoring consequences, with a little about honesty and grief. It is faint, and uplift was clearly never the goal here Few of these teens make good calls, and the adults are mostly absent. There is some loyalty and care between friends, but mostly this is about young people out of their depth
Story (may spoil tone)
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Once the spirits take hold the harm turns savage, including a possessed…
Once the spirits take hold the harm turns savage, including a possessed character battering himself and a bloody attack on another. The set-pieces are intense and the camera does not shy away from the impact
Language The f-word and s-word are frequent, and one especially strong word is u…
The f-word and s-word are frequent, and one especially strong word is used. The teenagers' speech is deliberately raw throughout
Sex / nudity The teens flirt and talk about kissing, and there are a few frank refer…
The teens flirt and talk about kissing, and there are a few frank references to oral sex and intercourse. A ritual briefly shows a woman's breasts. The nudity is unsettling rather than romantic
Drugs / alcohol The teens drink, get drunk, smoke, and swap weed stories across the par…
The teens drink, get drunk, smoke, and swap weed stories across the parties where the game spreads. Substance use is woven into their world and never flagged as a problem
Frightening The horror is relentless, mixing sudden shocks with grotesque spirit fa…
The horror is relentless, mixing sudden shocks with grotesque spirit faces and a growing sense that something has followed the kids home. The dread is heavy and the final act is genuinely disturbing
Self-harm / suicide A parent's death by suicide weighs on the lead character. A possessed t…
A parent's death by suicide weighs on the lead character. A possessed teenager also repeatedly hurts himself on screen. Both threads are prominent and may be especially hard for sensitive viewers
Child peril / abuse The whole cast are teenagers, and one young teen is possessed and badly…
The whole cast are teenagers, and one young teen is possessed and badly hurt on screen while the others panic. Watching kids this age in real danger is a big part of what makes the film so grim
Gore / death / weapons A prolonged scene shows a possessed teenager repeatedly smashing his fa…
A prolonged scene shows a possessed teenager repeatedly smashing his face and head. Other possession scenes include blood and visible wounds. The injury detail is graphic
Dangerous behaviour The spirit game is framed as a peer-pressure dare with rules and a nine…
The spirit game is framed as a peer-pressure dare with rules and a ninety-second limit, and the teens film it for attention. Its game-like presentation is worth discussing with older teens
Mental health Grief, depression, and unresolved trauma drive almost everyone here, an…
Grief, depression, and unresolved trauma drive almost everyone here, and the spirit game works partly because these kids are hurting. It is thoughtful about pain even as it uses it for scares
Grief / bereavement Loss sits at the centre, from the death of the hero's mother to the raw…
Loss sits at the centre, from the death of the hero's mother to the raw way the group handles tragedy. The sadness is as strong as the scares
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- The friends keep playing even after it gets dangerous. Why is it so hard to walk away from a group dare?
- Grief pushes the main character toward the game. What are healthier ways to deal with losing someone?
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Talk to Me
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