Welcome to the Heavy Spoilers, show I'm your host Paul and this video we're breaking down
Talk To Me.
-
meaning of the ending and explaining all the little thematic things that they do throughout
the film.
I dont wanna just recap the story so if you're coming into this video I'm assuming that you've
seen it but I will do a little bit of set up to add some context just incase you haven't.
However I highly recommend that you check it out before this video and if you enjoy
it then make sure you subscibe.
Now the movie was distributed by A24 and it follows a teenager named Mia who gets a little
too up close and personal at a party with some spirits. Normally when I do that it leads
to me face down in a bath somewhere but Mia and her friends brother Riley are pulled into
a horrifying world of ghosts and ghouls.
I feel like the whole movie is kind of a comment on the old things people used to get up to
at parties such as breaking out a ouja board or playing bloody mary. The hand seems like
it's all fun and games and it's something we know due to the ending goes on world wide.
Like all good ghost games there are rules that shouldn't be broken and for this part
of the video I wanna go through what the rules are. Holding the hand and saying Talk To Me
allows a person to connect with a spirit and they can sit and talk to them or take things
beyond that. If they say I let you in, it allows the spirit to posses them and talk
to those in the room which...bit...bit creepy.
Now it is possible for the spirit to gain more control and thus the connection must
be severed in 90 seconds to stop this from happening. As Hayley explains a candle used
to start the event must be blown out and this will stop the spirits from taking complete
control. This is something that used to be a staple of seances as well, with mediums
carrying out similar acts to what we see here. Candles would be lit in some circumstances
and they'd also allow themselves to get possessed...well depending on what you believe anyway.
The spirits we encounter all seem to have suffered grave or unfair fates and thus they
covet the living and want to hold onto them as much as they can. From what we see of the
afterlife it's a grim fate where youre unable to interact with anyone and thus the hand
makes them feel somewhat like they've managed to come back.
So the rules are pretty straight forward and the group see it as entertainment rather than
being how horrific it actually is. Everyone whips out their phones and I feel like this
may be a comment on how mobiles and cameras have kind of detached us from reality. It's
easy to feel like youre not actually part of it when youre wathcing things happen in
the moment through a screen and things are so fun youll probably end up laughing and
dancing to the crazy frog ring tone.
-
However things hit a wall when Riley connects with Mia's deceased mother who we learn died
due to what she's being told was an accidental overdose.
Her father somewhat shuts this idea down later on by reading her a note but Mia was never
really able to get closure on the situation. Her strained relationship with her father
is shown to us perfectly when we first see the pair together as he's shot out of focus
showing that they aren't connected. We also get Mia having to turn the tap on and off
to talk to him and water actually plays a big part in the film.
Subtly the director laces it through a lot of shots and it appears at numerous times
throughout the movie. The sound of water can be heard from the first spirit that possesses
Mia and we also learn that she died because of drowning.
-
Shortly after Rain washes the window whilst Riley and Mia talk and this creates an effect
like the pair are being splashed with water. Later on when Mia gets in the car with Daniel
we also see as rain hits the windshield carrying on this idea. Blood runs down the shower into
the drain with Riley and there's also rain at the hospital when Jade goes to her mother.
There's also the effect of water covering the ghosts and its something that continues
throughout the film. I think this connection to the first ghost shows that she's always
with Mia and once they've connected that there's water surrounding her because she may be watching.
Mirrors and glass also plays a big part too with Mias mother mainly being shot through
it.
This is something that the shining most notably did and all the scenes involving ghosts had
either glass or a mirror in them.
This is the case in when she first sees her behind the door and she's standing right behind
some corrugated glass. At the hospital Mia also catches her in the reflection of a hallway
window before she goes into the bathroom which is lined with Mirrors. Here she bangs on the
cubicle door to try and get it open which is actually similar to what happened with
her mothers death.
We learn that after she passed away her body slumped infront of the door and her dad had
to shoulder barge through it in order to get in. This is something he has to do to get
into Mias room later on and it plays off both the past and foreshadows the future.
When her dad reads her the note we also see her mothers reflection in the window and when
talking to her in her room this happens through a mirror. This somewhat riffs on a conversation
earlier on when Jade spoke with her mum through a mirror as well.
-
Hold on...is that...is that Eowyn?
Anyway it all culminates at the end when Mia comes face to face with a mirror at a hospital
which we'll talk about later on in the video.
Now in the case of Riley, due to everything with Mias mother the link goes way past 90
seconds and he starts to smash his head like it's the like button.
Hospitalised, Mia is haunted by visions of her mother and both Rileys sister and mum
blame her for his injuries. Taking the hand, Mia uses it to reconnect with her mother who
tells her that her death was accidental.
She also tells her that she needs to kill Riley in order to save him and that she will
take care of him in the afterlife. Now if you're asking me, that was a f**king lie.
We know the ghosts can change shape due to one appearing like Mia's dad and as we know
he also had a note. I was expecting the twist to be that he killed her mother but I'm glad
they strayed away from it and honestly he seemed like a good guy. I think the vision
of Limbo that Mia sees when connecting with Riley is the truth of the matter and her mother
uttering we'll have him forever at the end shows what the true plan is.
I actually beleive that shes the one who killed Mia and that she'd been manipulating her for
the entire time. However she didn't do enoguh to make her kill Riley and this is why he's
freed and let go at the end. This is actually told to us at the start of the movie when
we see the brothers duckett and cole together at the house party. Duckett stabs Cole and
he doesnt duckett before saying duckett and ending his own life.
Sorry.
This is a similar thing to what happens with Mia and therefore I think the spirits were
the ones who had a hand in it.
Now Mia being unable to kill Riley actually plays into her character as we see what her
true natures like due to the kangaroo in the road. This is somewhat a metaphor for Riley
as both lay dying and Mia has a choice to make. Both instances involved cars and driving
at a high speed which I appreciate in terms of symbolism.
Now In both cases she cant put them out their misery and this shows that she'd always struggle
when killing him.
Now Riley getting to walk away from this was actually set up by Cole on the bus who told
them the spirits hold would weaken on its own.
We don't really have any evidence for this and I know there is some contention over it
as the spirits seem to get stronger and we know what happened with his brother. Let me
know your thoughts below but either way Mia didn't really want to believe this because
she wanted to trust the ghost that appeared to be her mother.
Now as for what the ghosts want there appears to be a contradicition in their motives. For
example they long to be in possession of someone and can be seen laughing, singing and enjoying
themselves for the best 90 seconds of their life. That's something my wife says she enjoys
as well and youd think that the spirits wouldnt want to kill riley if they have possession
over him.
However thye clearly lust for his young soul and this is seen from teh initial possessions
and them coveting him. I'm guessing due to what we see with limbo that they have sick
and twisted desires that make younger souls more appealing to them.
Potentially we are also experiencing not only ghosts of the living but demons as well. I
think if you go in with that mindset that it makes a lot more sense.
The possessions themselves also seem demonic too with the persons eyes becoming blacker
the longer it goes on. The eyes are of course the windows to the soul so retaining possession
could end up taking ones soul.
They may just be ghosts though and lets be honest, living in a black void for eternity
where youre used as a party trick might get annoying after a while. You might just hit
a point where you wanna bring everyone down with you and if you had endgame spoiled for
you you might just do it to everyone else.
Either way Mias death gives a harrowing version of the afterlife and it reflects the dream
she talks about earlier in the movie. She stated that she had one where she was unable
to see her reflection and this happens come the end of the film.
Her father is once more shut out and again this speaks to the separation between them.
He's lost both his wife and daughter now due to the pair taking their own lives...or at
least seeming to.
I feel like this is the true meaning of the film with death lingering on forever long
after someone has gone. This was the case with Mia's mother and though she saved Riley
she's now a spectre forced to look on whilst those around her miss her. She'll also be
pulled out by others who see fun in death but ultimately if they were to encounter it
like she had there would be a totally different story. It's not the enchanting thing the characters
thing and the horror that the spirits are going through isn't something to be mocked
or laughed at.
I feel like this is what Mia experiences at the end and we see her moving towards the
light which is normally a sign of one going to heaven. However there's no happiness here
or reunion with her mother and instead shes wheeled out at a party to become a trick that
she mocked herself.
We know that the hand itself has been passed around a lot too as we can see grafitti and
signatures on it showing how many owners it's had. I think every group likely gives it away
when something happens similar to Duckett and Mia and it may end up trapping those who
mock it to live that fate themselves.
It feels like bitter irony and it speaks to how death and tragedy can often turn the living
into the dead thesmelves because theyre unable to let go. Thats what I think the hand symbolises
and this was all started because Mia couldnt let go of her mother within Riley.
Mia has now met a similar fate to her and though Riley is off living...well the life
of Riley, she's stuck in this eternal tormet unable to move on.
I think this film talks about grief, guilt and blame with her jumping about from emotion
to emotion. She obviously grieves and feels guilt over her mother but at times blames
her dad too. I think the movie may even trick us into thinking thats the way its gonna go
so we somewhat blame him too. Mia even lives with Jade and her family and shes got a way
closer bond with them than her dad due to whats happened.
It also shows that the darker sides of our mind or entities may pray upon grief and Mia
was manipulated throughout this due to her feelings. Had she and her father talked earlier
she could have avoided this fate instead of wondering what the truth was which led her
here.
It's a really dark and depressing ending and it closes out whats an incredible film. Made
by two youtubers, its kinda, kinda put me to shame and we know that a second film is
actually currently in the works. I really think theres lots of interesting concepts
that thye can do with this and rather than following another group I actually hope we
follow Mia.
I think it would be intereting to see her almost acting like a guardian angel to Riley
as I doubt the spirits let him go that easily.
I think we could use Mia as a way to explain the spirits and what goes on as well as where
the hand comes from. We did get it tocuhed upon with it being linked to a medium but
there may be a way for us to see its history and whats gone on with it. Time clearly moves
differently in the land of the dead as what im guessing is months seems to pass by in
seconds.
We also get what I think is a New Zealand accent showing that the hand would've at least
had to travel. I think she may even possess this person and try and use him as a way to
reach out to her old friends which I think would be devastating if she learns its been
years and years. We may even get an older Riley who shows up looking like Terry Tibs
and then we could get the best joke of all time when he says.
Talk to me
Now all in all that wraps up the movie and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I
can't wait to see what happens next time and if theres anything thematically we missed
below or any details then drop them in the comments and let me know.
Please drop a like on the video and if you want to support the channel as a member of
the Spoiler Society then please click the join button.
You'll get early access to videos every week and it goes such a long way to helping us.
If you wanna get some heavy spoilers merch we've also got our t-shirt line located just
below the video that will let you pick up all kinds of tops like our Theory time one,
house of the dragon stuff, marvel tees and a lot more.
We drop new designs on there all the time too so definitely keep an eye out for them.
Now if you want something else to watch we have a video on screen right now _____________________
With that out the way, huge thank you for sitting through the video, I've been your
host and I'll see you next time. Take care, Peace.