Talk to Me was one of the most talked about horror movies when it was first released, and people are still raving about it to this day. The movie brought a grounded realism and intimate portrayal of peer pressure, addiction, and grief to the big screen. Audiences loved its unabashed tackling of these themes, as well as the breakout performance from Sophie Wilde as Mia.
A24 announced that a Talk to Me sequel was in the works in late 2023, sparking theories and speculation from fans. While there are still no new announcements or details surrounding the project, there are some potential routes the Talk to Me sequel may take, some better than others.
Horror Sequels Are Hit or Miss
The first movie was a massive success, but sequels, especially in horror, can be difficult to pull off without dragging the story out or ruining some of the intrigue of the original film. Part of Talk to Me‘s appeal is its sense of uncertainty. The hand’s origins aren’t thoroughly explained, which puts audiences in the characters’ shoes. Part of the excitement, and fear, for the characters is in messing with something that they can’t really understand. Similarly, Mia’s ending is intentionally open-ended. She’s clearly trapped in the spirit world, forced to be on the other side of the hand for what may be an eternity. But audiences don’t get to see any more detail than that. They don’t know what the place she’s trapped in looks like or if there’s any possibility of escape.
A sequel that gives more background on the hand’s origins could work, as long as there’s still a good amount left up to interpretation. This preserves the mystery aspect of horror which makes the story even scarier for audiences. As for expanding on the first movie, it really depends on whether the sequel follows some familiar characters or not.
Should Mia Make a Comeback?
Since the Talk To Me sequel was announced, fans have been wondering if some familiar faces will return to their screens. Sophie Wilde’s performance was a big part of the first movie’s success. Audiences and critics alike praised the star for her realistic and nuanced portrayal of Mia’s descent into darkness. Though many would love to see her return as Mia, it’s unclear if she will. Wilde has expressed interest in returning but doesn’t know what the future holds. Fans would love to see it. But would it be the best move for the story itself?
Mia’s ending felt satisfying in part because of its uncertainty. It was fitting that her character suffered from indecision, trying to escape a cycle of grief and addiction. She runs from her past the whole movie — only to end up trapped in a cycle of pain once again. Audiences can read Mia’s ending as commentary on the fact that not everyone manages to escape. Some people can, like Riley. But others fall through the cracks, especially those like Mia. Those without a support system are vulnerable to outside influence, whether it be human peer pressure or the whims of malicious spirits.
If the creators decided to bring Mia back, they would have a few options. They could find a way to resurrect or save her from the spirit world and bring her back to the land of the living. Or they could meet her where she is in the spirit world and follow her life there. The resurrection option seems a bit like a cop-out, in the sense that it would lessen the impact of the first movie. The second option could work but it also removes some of the intrigue and significance of the original. Either way, the creators risk sacrificing the hard-hitting message that they first left audiences with.
Looking Forward to Talk 2 Me
An interesting idea for the sequel may be to follow Riley. The creators could call back to the original events and Mia without rehashing old events. Riley could be an interesting character to follow as he enters a new stage of his life, especially after surviving everything he did. Or the sequel could follow completely new characters. The first movie’s ending suggests there’s either another hand out there or the original hand made its way elsewhere in the world. This opens up possibilities to expand the world.
Whatever direction Talk 2 Me takes, the most important thing is keeping the intimate, unflinching approach of the original. The Talk to Me sequel is probably still a good ways off so the creators have plenty of time to think about how they want to continue the story. And fans have plenty of time to theorize on how the Talk to Me universe might expand — for better or for worse.
