Why So Blu?

Talk To Me – Amazon Exclusive (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

While Barbie and Oppenheimer were dominating the box office and the headlines in the late summer, there was another film making waves and profits on a smaller scale; the Australian fright fest that is Talk To Me. The film was an ultra low budget import that became one of A24’s most successful. Released on October 3rd, it arrived on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with a Dolby Atmos track and a handful of extras. There is an Amazon Exclusive edition which has a special lenticular slipcover and another disc with a recording of a Q&A on it. You can order that version by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.

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Film

When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits with an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, unleashing terrifying supernatural forces in the eye-popping, nightmarish debut from filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou.

Just very recently, as a part of the Out Now With Aaron and Abe 2023 October Horror Specials, we had an episode dedicated to Australian horror films. And of course Talk To Me came up and I gave my thoughts which you can listen to here:

Video

Disclaimer: Screen captures used in the review are from the standard Blu-ray disc, not the 4K UHD Blu-ray disc.

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Layers: BD-100

Clarity/Detail: Talk To Me debuts on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with a gorgeous transfer here. This sure is the little film that could, and thanks to great technical prowess, this film looks very good on the format. It features great clarity and fine details. The sharp picture displays a good color palette and strong depth. Overall, very enthused with how this turned on when watching it at home.

Depth:  Depth of field is very strong, thanks to having directors having a good sense of cinematography and lensing. The scale is terrific and the pushback and spacing looks lovely. Movement is smooth and natural with no distortion issues present from rapid cuts or action movement.

Black Levels: Blacks are deep, rich and natural. This movie has expert-level night sequences and shadowing. No information is lost and the darkest corners still showcase stronger details, texture and patterns. No crushing witnessed.

Color Reproduction: Colors are strong and really come off quite bold. The yellow jacket worn by Sophie Wilde sticks out. Reds and pop as well. Good contrast brings some nice use of HDR when it comes to little candle lights, car lights, display screens and more.

Flesh Tones: Skin tones are natural and consistent from start to finish. Facial features and textures like moles, freckles, sweat beads, make-up strokes, lip texture, blemishes and more showcase clear as day.

Noise/Artifacts: Clean

Audio

Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

Dynamics: Talk To Me features a VERY engrossing Atmos track that just gives you the confidence that these people know what they are doing at every turn. Its plenty loud with a playful volume planned for good horror effect. There’s great layering and depth and playful whisp around the room with sounds emanating and pulsating to engross you and immerse you in the film.

Height: From above you get plenty of ghost sounds kinda stuff as well as some nice interesting contributions for good effect as well as any thing that would naturally come from above or work in tandem with how the camera is pointed or traveling.

Low Frequency Extension: There’s a nice boom from musical stings and such as well as some of the crashing and intense soundscapes that come with the horror experience of taking the hand that has the subwoofer producing some powerful rumbles.

Surround Sound Presentation: This room has a lot going on. It works to build some nice normal and creepy ambiance in the room. Rear and side channels provide unique contributions while also tracking and keeping offscreen activity going and accurate with angle changes and the like. Rolling sound has good heft and lumbers around the room.

Dialogue Reproduction:  Vocals are crisp and clear.

Extras

Talk To Me – Amazon Exclusive comes with the standard Blu-ray edition. This Amazon Exclusive version comes with a lenticular slipcover featuring art different than the standard release and a additional Blu-ray bonus disc.

Blu-ray Disc 1

Audio Commentary

• With Writers / Directors Danny and Michael Philippou

In the Grip of Terror (HD; 13:28) – A brief promotional based making of that features some softer interviews and behind the scenes footage.

Deleted Scenes (HD, 6:54)

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:03)

Blu-ray Disc 2

Talk to Me Q & A with filmmakers Danny & Michael Philippou (HD; 23:11) – This was recorded at a screening in Santa Monica back in July of 2023.

Summary

Talk To Me isn’t just one of the best horror films of the year, its one of the best films altogether. Lionsgate brings it out on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with a pristine presentation, impressive in its video transfer and rollicking fun with the Atmos track. Extras are a bit light and feel kind of light as well. This edition comes with a bonus disc and slipcover that I’m not sure warrent that much higher a price tag. Definitely pick it up, but I’m sure the standard edition will do you just fine.

This is a paid Amazon Associates link