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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Talk to Me

Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou in their feature directorial debuts.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou in their feature directorial debuts. It follows a group of teenagers who use a mysterious embalmed hand to contact spirits, with escalating consequences.

Plot

The story follows a group of teenagers who discover a way to contact spirits by using a severed, embalmed hand. The situation becomes dangerous as the experience escalates beyond a game.

Production

Talk to Me was directed by Danny and Michael Philippou and written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman from a concept by Daley Pearson. It marked the Philippou brothers’ first feature film as directors.

Release and reception

The film premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2022 and reached Australian cinemas in July 2023 before its U.S. release the next day. It received positive critical reviews and became A24’s then-highest-grossing horror film.

Awards

At the 13th AACTA Awards, the film won eight awards, including Best Film. The Philippou brothers won Best Direction and Best Original Screenplay, and Sophie Wilde won Best Actress.

Key facts

  • The film is a supernatural horror feature and the Philippou brothers’ feature directorial debut.
  • Its plot centres on teenagers who summon spirits using an embalmed hand.
  • It premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on 30 October 2022.
  • It grossed about US$92 million worldwide against a production budget of US$4.5 million.
  • At the 13th AACTA Awards, it won eight awards, including Best Film.
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Canadian context

The film was widely released internationally and became a notable modern horror title for Canadian audiences through its prominence in English-language genre cinema, although no Canada-specific production detail is provided in the available sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Talk to Me about?
It is about teenagers who use an embalmed hand to contact spirits, with frightening consequences.
Who directed Talk to Me?
It was directed by Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou.
When was Talk to Me released?
It premiered in October 2022 and was theatrically released in Australia in July 2023 and in the United States the following day.
How successful was Talk to Me at the box office?
It grossed about US$92 million worldwide on a US$4.5 million budget.
Did Talk to Me win any awards?
Yes. It won eight AACTA Awards, including Best Film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_to_Me_(2022_film)
    Supports: Core identity, plot, directors, writers, release dates, box office, and awards
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10638522/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and cast information
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/talk_to_me_2023
    Supports: Release timing and genre classification