Talk to Me: An Indie Horror Sequel with Potential
Talk to Me is the rare Indie Horror sequel. While the genre is well-known for its sequels, the indie distributor A24 is known for auteur-driven films and prioritizes filmmaker freedom above all else, making it less common to see a new horror movie with the potential for future stories. However, Talk to Me’s co-directors, Danny and Michael Philippou, have voices openness to the possibility of a follow-up to the 2017 A24 film, which itself builds upon the skeleton of a previous short film from the brothers.
Despite Talk to Me’s impressive opening weekend and positive critical reception, there has been little talk about a potential follow-up. While it is unclear whether there are any plans for a Talk to Me sequel, the film has already spawned a prequel in the works that explores the backstory of one of the victims. But the story of the embalmed hand that allows people to summon and be possessed by dead spirits is far from over.
The unique premise and rules established within Talk to Me allow for a wealth of different directions for future stories and sequels. It would be easy enough to simply have different spirits possess the characters, going with Elvis or a famous serial killer or something. But the anthology approach could work, like John Carpenter’s Halloween sequels or the V/H/S series.
Another option is to keep the lead character dead. Mia, who dies in the first film, could continue on as a sort of ghost detective, solving mysteries from beyond the grave or attempting to return to the land of the living. The possibilities are endless, and Talk to Me establishes clear rules about the embalmed hand that allow for different genres and stories.
A24 is known for championing emerging talent and supporting original work, so it may be that the studio wants to keep Talk to Me a standalone film. After all, the Philippou brothers have gained a lot of attention for their work with A24 and their willingness to experiment with different genres and storytelling techniques.
Whatever the future holds for the brothers and the world of Talk to Me, there is a clear demand for fresh and innovative horror films. A24’s smaller budgets allow them to take more risks and support emerging talent, and the success of Talk to Me and the interest in potential sequels demonstrates that fans are eager to see what the Philippous and A24 create next.
Check out everything we know about the future projects from A24 and the Philippous in our F8 2023 preview guide and our F9 2022 preview guide. You can also take a look at some of the other upcoming horror movies we’re looking forward to.
