Talk to Me (2023) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

It's not every day that a horror movie surprises everyone and forever becomes a staple in the horror genre. Possession films are a dime a dozen, but somehow the new-to-the-scene filmmakers Danny and Michael Phlippou have created a monster of a film and its universe that it resides in which flips the horror genre upside down with something fresh and original in their first movie Talk To Me. This Australian film packs intense scares, dark comedy, and horrifying imagery that stands next to the best in cinema with some truly outstanding performances and a tight, polished screenplay. 

How does one go about changing the horror genre where possession and the supernatural are concerned that hasn't really been done before? The Philppou brothers have conjured up a screenplay with some wonderful suspense in their 95-minute film that expands on elements from other movies in the best ways possible. From films like The Sixth Sense to The Shining and even Event Horizon - Talk To Me explores the scariest moments of those films with some fresh perspectives. And even though it might not cause those intense frights every minute of the movie like, in The Conjuring, the scene-specific moments in Talk To Me are earned and pack a giant punch that impacts every character in a brutal and amazing way.

Taking its cues from horror movies where kids experiment with Quija boards, Talk To Me examines the social media aspect for school friends going through the new Tide-Pod-like challenge online where it looks like people are convulsing and having seizures. It's revealed at a party that a ceramic hand in the shape of shaking one's hand is the conduit between the living and the dead. Upon touching the hand and uttering the words, Talk To Me, the individual will immediately see a dead person in front of them. This can result in an additional level of possession if they desire. The Phlippou brothers lay out the rules pretty simply, but they are vague enough to allow future sequels and this terrifying universe to expand. It's not just the souls of dead people that are lurking in some form of the afterlife here. There is something much more sinister afoot that would love to have tea and cupcakes with Dante in his own inferno.

Read the rest of Bryan's Talk to Me Theatrical Review HERE

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Talk To Me invites itself into the 4K + Blu-ray + Digital Copy realm via A24 and Lionsgate. The discs are housed inside a hard, black plastic case with a cardboard sleeve. The artwork is the same on both with the iconic hand reaching out. There is an insert for a digital code too. 

Talk To Me has a fantastic 2160p UHD 4K transfer with Dolby Vision. This is a bleak film in tone and style, so there are not many bright, happy colors. There are two big color palettes on display here. One is that cold blueish-green tint that feels like everything is decaying.

Those dark sequences are tempered with that low light blue glow that crosses into a bit of the green territory, making for a wonderful-looking horror movie. The hallways of the hospital showcase a wonderful gray image as well. There are also muted reds and yellows here, but everything is on the cool side. Inside the various houses, the color palette changes. These images have a fiery orange and red palette, the antithesis of anything cold.

The colors are very warm and inviting which can throw viewers off from the sheer violence that happens during these scenes. The red blood is bright and full of shades of red which the Dolby Vision enhances against white tile floors or on wooden tables. Black levels are inky and rich throughout without any visible crush or murky shadows. The skin tones are natural in those warmer tones as well. The detail is sharp and vivid, revealing amazing closeups that show facial pores, wrinkles, practical makeup effects, freckles, droplets of blood and sweat, rubber mask textures, and more. Even the low-lit sequences reveal tons of wonderful detail. There are no video problems to speak of here. 

This release comes with a Dolby Atmos track that works well when it's utilized. There are a lot of atmospheric horrors here, so explosions or gunshots are non-existent. The track starts out at a high school party where the music is bumping and kids are yelling and talking. The full speaker system blasts off nicely with some wide dynamic range and some low end of the bass that rumbles perfectly. From here, there's a lot of dialogue and musical cues that haunt the soundscape. It's when the turbulent possessed violence is enacted that the speakers really come full force.

Body parts hitting objects or tiles sound robust and gooey. It has an extra power that really drives those nasty sequences and sound effects home. Quieter moments are equally great as well. The height speakers don't come through often, but when it rains and thunders, along with some of those ghastly noises during certain scenes, the sounds come pouring down. The score always adds to the tone of the film and the dialogue is clean, clear, and easy to follow with the Australian accents. This is a great-sounding Dolby Atmos mix. 

The lack of any in-depth extras is sad, but there might be an A24 collector's edition coming soon. There are only about 24 minutes of extras included with an added audio commentary track. 

• Audio Commentary - Directors Danny and Michael Philippou (twin brothers) deliver a very engaging and lively commentary track. These guys are super fun, smart, and have tons of great information. They discuss making the film, working with the actors, how they filmed the intense scenes, and more. This is a great track to listen to. 
• In the Grip of Terror (UHD, 14 Mins.) - A fun EPK piece that is all too short. The cast and crew talk about making the film with some behind-the-scenes footage. 
• Deleted Scenes (UHD, 7 Mins.) - A few deleted and extended sequences are included. 
• Trailer (UHD, 3 Mins.) - Trailer for the film. 

Talk To Me is one of the year's BEST horror films. Hell, in the last few years. The Philippou Brothers are going to have a bright future in cinema. The performances and horror universe they created are divine. This 4K image with Dolby Vision looks incredible while the Dolby Atmos audio track sounds wonderful The small and short bonus features are worth watching, but there should be more. Highly Recommended!