An exciting first-look image for the new South Australian-filmed horror feature, Talk to Me has been unveiled at Cannes, with Bankside Films showing a promo of the title at the festival.
The directorial debut from South Australian YouTube sensation filmmaking twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou (aka RackaRacka), Talk to Me recently wrapped production in Adelaide.
Cast in the lead role is rising Ivorian-Australian star Sophie Wilde (Netflix / BBC drama You Don’t Know Me), who will next be seen in Jim Henson Company’s forthcoming feature The Portable Door alongside Academy-Award winner Christoph Waltz and as the female lead in ITV/Masterpiece miniseries, Tom Jones.
Joining Wilde in the cast will be Miranda Otto (The Thin Red Line, What Lies Beneath, The Lord of the Rings, Homeland), Alexandra Jensen (Amazing Grace, The Letdown and Joe vs Carole), Marcus Johnson (Power Rangers Ninja Steel, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee), Zoe Terakes (Nine Perfect Strangers, Wentworth, Ellie and Abbie) and Otis Dhanji, best known for his performance as Young Arthur in Aquaman.
The film follows a group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits using an ancient embalmed hand, becoming hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and opens the door to the spirit world. Increasingly haunted by supernatural visions, the friends unwittingly prompt a devastating possession, forcing them to choose who to trust: the dead or the living.
Talk to Me. Photo: Matthew Thorne
Best known for their comic horror and action shorts, the Philippou brothers (RackaRacka) have amassed over 1.5 billion views with 6.5+ million subscribers across their social media channels.
RackaRacka were named one of Variety’s FameChangers and ranked fifth on the Australian Financial Review’s Cultural Power List. The screenplay was written by Danny Philippou alongside regular RackaRacka collaborator Bill Hinzman.
Talk to Me will be produced by Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Australian production powerhouse Causeway Films, who shot to huge success with their first feature film, multi-award-winning psychological thriller, The Babadook directed by Jennifer Kent, also filmed in Adelaide. Further credits include The Nightingale, South Australian filmed horror Cargo and You Won’t Be Alone.
Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Green of Bankside Films will serve as Executive Producers. The film has received major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), and was financed with support from the Adelaide Film Festival, Hold Standard and KOJO Studios.
Bankside Films will be showing a promo to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival and represent worldwide sales, except for Australia and New Zealand, which is being handled by Umbrella Entertainment.
Find out more about this and other exciting South Australian screen productions in the SAFC’s SA Made Showcase, highlighting feature films, TV series, documentaries, video games and more filmed, produced and post-produced in South Australia from 1975 to today.