Spike Jonze Praises ‘Talk to Me': “So Scary [...] That Movie Unsettled Me"

It’s always fun reading filmmakers complimenting other filmmakers’ films. In fact, I find it more interesting than any critic chiming in with his or her own thoughts on a film.

Here’s Spike Jonze— remember him? —whose last film was 2013’s “Her” — he’s also known for “Adaptation,” “Being John Malkovich” and many great music videos, including Fat Boy Slim’s iconic “Praise You.”

Last year, Jonze watched The Phillipou Brothers’ “Talk to Me” and, in an interview with Monster Children, labelled the horror film as "so scary.” He went on to compare his experience to watching Ari Aster’s “Hereditary":

It was really well done, really well made and so well acted. You know when you see a really creepy movie like Hereditary […] That movie unsettled me all day. I just felt like I wasn’t quite in real life anymore.

Twin filmmaking duo Danny and Michael Philippou's “Talk to Me” completely subverted the clichés of the horror genre. Yes, there are some first-timer mistakes here and there, but these boys have vision to spare.

Jonze joins Peter Jackson in his praise for “Talk to Me,” which he described as “The best, most intense, horror movie I've enjoyed in years.”

Best horror movie in years? This decade has seen the release of critically acclaimed horror such as “The Invisible Man,” “Barbarian,” “Titane,” “Watcher” and “Possessor,” but, I agree, “Talk to Me” is quite good and belongs on this list of films.

The film was an indie hit at the box-office as well, having grossed $92 million worldwide on a scant $4 million budget. Last year, A24 announced that a sequel, entitled ‘Talk 2 Me’, was in the works.

It’s not just Jackson and Jonze, The Phillipou brothers have received messages from the likes of Steven Spielberg, Jordan Peele, George Miller and Ari Aster, all praising “Talk to Me.” These youing filmmakers must feel like they’re living in some kind of dream. Good for them. Their film was very good.

“Talk to Me” starred Sophia Wilde as teenager Mia, who, on the anniversary of her mother’s death, gathers for a “calling” seance with her friends. They conjure up spirits using an ancient embalmed hand, and become temporarily possessed. The catch is that they must exorcise the spirit within 90 seconds, or it will try to stay.

The thin line between reality and the spiritual collapses in this film, as Mia is haunted by supernatural visions, but are they just all in her head? It amounts to a very distinctive vibe — the atmospheric dread is one thing, but parts of this film feel damn-near surreal.