The Night Diver

I’ve decided to switch gears a bit and head into another avenue of horror content, which is the realm of movies. There has been a treasure trove of horror movies coming out lately, which I want to sink my teeth into at some point, but I decided to start off with a movie that really caught me by surprise. Before writing this review, I had been trying to find a horror movie that provides something new or original, and I had soon stumbled upon ‘Talk to Me’. While its premise isn’t something entirely original, it does smartly transform a near classic horror storyline into something that is fresh and exciting for anyone who may want to watch it. The main thing that got me interested was that it was a debut horror movie from a pair of youtubers that seemed to have a fairly positive community, so I was even more excited to see how well a movie can be made when transitioning from something like online video sharing to the quite vaunted silver screen. Of course, shifting to such different mediums could lead to either greatness, or downright horrific execution, but I guess that extra risk added to the suspense of the movie. But I could confirm that this movie more than clears the mark, and will certainly be part of any horror movie recommendations that I give to people.

The first thing I would like to commend, is the acting in this movie. I didn’t recognize a lot of the actors involved, which makes sense due to the movie being focused on younger teenagers, and being an Australian production. Thankfully, the lack of numbers in age, did not mean lack of acting ability. These characters are silly, flawed, and obnoxious much like any teenager, and they capture the vibe quite convincingly without looking like they were being directed by someone who is very much not a teenager. It made the setting and characters very believable, making the scares hit all the more home. It is actually quite impressive that nearly all of the main and supporting cast has the level of acting ability and chemistry to really sell the story being told.

The story of the movie is fairly straightforward: Teenagers get a supernatural embalmed hand that can conjure spirits, and a party trick soon becomes a nightmare for everyone involved. The premise harkens back to many a Ouija Board plotline, but it makes up for familiar territory with excellent pacing, and absolutely bone-chilling scares that grip you from behind the screen. There were many a scene that made me physically cringe, or drop my jaw at the sheer disgust or surprise, and in a way, it was quite refreshing compared to the other horror movies I’ve watched. I think the movie does quite well with how it deals with the supernatural, keeping it present, yet mysterious in its workings, which keeps cooking up sheer tension until it hits you with a scene that will wring out a visceral response from your body.

The movie has the pacing and tension down to an art form, and it is bolstered by the equally beautiful and horrific cinematography that can both keep your eyes glued and make you want to run away from the grotesque horrors that unfold on the screen. There is one scene in particular that still haunts me, which is a glimpse into the world of the supernatural, malevolent entities involved in the movie, and it could only be described as a distillation of what it truly means for a place to be called hell. Even if the concept of such a place is only relegated to the imagination, the movie in my opinion was able to bring one of the closest approximations to such an idea, which honestly shook me to the core. There is this and much more when it comes to the camerawork used in the movie, and all of it is an absolute treat for anyone who is looking for horror maximized in the visual medium.

Overall, this movie is an excellent debut, and it makes me even more anticipated for what the Philippou brothers are going to cook up next. The pacing, the direction, and cinematography make the movie hit hard with its scares as you are watching, but it also ties up the story in a way that it occupies the space in your mind for much longer afterwards. For anyone who is looking for a new and interesting telling of a classic horror story, this movie is certainly not one to miss.

My final rating is: 4.5/5 stars