"Talk To Me" (2023) is an impeccable directorial debut, a film that splendidly intertwines horror with a poignant exploration of mental health torment. It is an original, smart, and stylish horror film that sets a new bar for the genre. The pacing is masterfully handled, allowing the tension to build steadily without feeling rushed. The audience is given time to soak in the dread, making the horror even more palpable. This controlled pacing avoids rushing the narrative, ensuring the unfolding horror feels all the more real and impactful.

Sophie Wilde delivers an unforgettable performance that is as scary as it is vulnerable. She draws the viewer into her world of fear and anxiety, making her character's descent into madness unnervingly believable. Her portrayal captivates the audience, making the horror and fear her character endures palpable.

The film employs visual horror, gross-out moments, and anxiety horror to great effect, adding to the overall atmosphere of unease. It leans into visual horror and gross-out moments that are far from gratuitous. These elements serve to intensify the atmosphere of anxiety horror, brilliantly illustrating the mental health torment and the horror that stems from it.

"Talk To Me" brilliantly explores mental health torment through its horror lens. The film is both scary and unsettling, creating an atmosphere that is pure genre bliss. It is unrelenting, and twisty, and balances its gloriously sickening antics with genuine emotion, creating a horror experience that is as moving as it is terrifying.

The film steers clear of cheap jump scares, choosing instead to rely on a creeping sense of dread that builds to a crescendo of terror. The ending is unpredictable and offers an impactful conclusion to the story. However, it does feel slightly rushed and could have used more explanation. Despite this minor flaw, the ending remains effective and should be appreciated by viewers who understand its subtleties.

"Talk To Me" discusses themes of family trauma, grief, and loss, providing a deeper layer to the horror narrative. The influence of "Hereditary" on the film's horror style is evident, yet it still maintains its own unique voice. Ultimately, "Talk To Me" is a disturbing and unsettling meditation on grief and loss. Despite a minor issue with the rushed ending, it stands as a commendable debut and a significant contribution to the horror genre.

Definitely a must-watch film of 2023. A24 never disappoints in providing quality films, especially in the horror genre.