Overview
The best Australian horror film of 2023 is getting some more skin: Talk to Me, the smash-hit feature debut by Adelaide-born twins Danny and Michael Philippou — aka YouTubers RackaRacka — is scoring a sequel. A24, which released the flick after picking it up in a Sundance Film Festival bidding war, has announced that audiences will be spending more time in this possession thriller's world. Does that news call for shaking hands with an embalmed palm? Feeling the rush while being haunted? Having your mates watch and film it? Dealing with the spooky consequences? If you're game after seeing the initial movie, yes.
Variety reports that the Philippou brothers will be back behind the lens, and that Danny is writing the screenplay with Bill Hinzman after the pair penned the first flick together. And the follow-up's name? Talk 2 Me.
So far, a release date for the now-franchise's second effort hasn't been announced, nor stars; however, the Philippous have long had more than just one Talk to Me film in their sights.
"It's so funny — we've written such an in-depth mythology bible about the backstory of the hand, the spirits that are possessing the kids, and there's just so many seeds that we planted," Danny told Concrete Playground in a chat before the first movie's release.
"Even when we're writing the first film, I was writing scenes for a second film — and me and the other writer were always discussing it and talking about it. The idea of franchising or doing a sequel is so exciting to us."
Danny and Michael made their leap to the big screen after racking up a huge following with RackaRacka's viral videos, and via behind-the-scenes work on Australian films such as The Babadook. Their debut feature has proven a big box-office success, taking in US$10 million on its opening weekend in America alone, which placed it second among A24's films after Hereditary. In Australia, it has notched up over AU$1.2 million at the time of writing since its July 27 release.
Starring Sophie Wilde (The Portable Door), Miranda Otto (The Clearing), Zoe Terakes (Nine Perfect Strangers), Otis Dhanji (June Again), Chris Alosio (Millie Lies Low) and Alexandra Jensen (Joe vs Carole), Talk to Me sits alongside a mighty impressive lineup of other eerie flicks in A24's catalogue — The Witch, Midsommar, In Fabric, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Beau Is Afraid, X and Pearl, to name a few. Soon, Talk 2 Me will join that list as well.
Check out the trailer for Talk to Me below:
Talk to Me is now screening in Australian and New Zealand cinemas. Read our review, and our interview with Danny Philippou.
Via Variety.