Mind-Blowing A24 Horror Movie Banned Overseas for Shocking Reasons

Highlights

"Talk To Me," an Australian horror film, delves into the psychological trauma of a grieving teenager who uses an embalmed hand to communicate with the dead.

The film's ban in Kuwait was not attributed to its disturbing events, but rather to the inclusion of Zoe Terakes, a trans actor, in a supporting role. This ban sheds light on a double standard within the film industry, which occasionally results in the prohibition of exceptional movies based on social politics, thus depriving audiences of a remarkable cinematic experience.

One of A24's most unsettling horror films, Talk To Me, reaches the same levels of fear as Hereditary. However, the film's unsettling occurrences were not the cause of its ban in the Middle East.

Not for the faint-hearted, this Australian horror flick delves into the disturbed psyche of teenager Mia (Sophie Wilde). Still grappling with the accidental overdose death of her mother, Mia's grief strains her relationship with her father and forces her to seek solace in supernatural realms. And what could be more comforting than communicating with the deceased through an embalmed hand? What began as a harmless party game quickly turns deadly as Mia becomes addicted to touching the hand. Simply uttering the words "Talk to me" allows one to witness the apparition of a deceased individual capable of possessing their body.

The sequences of demonic possession in Talk To Me deviate from the typical horror movie formula, offering a unique and less light-hearted approach. However, despite the disturbing and horrifying moments of emotional trauma, the film's banning is attributed to the casting of one of its supporting characters. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the release of Talk To Me has been blocked in Kuwait due to concerns about the appearance of transgender actor Zoe Terakes. Terakes, who identifies as nonbinary and transmasculine, is the reported reason behind the ban on the film.

In the movie, Terakes portrays Hayley, a character who plays a pivotal role in driving the events of Talk To Me. Hayley's actions and influence lead Mia, the film's protagonist, to venture into uncharted territory with unforeseen forces. Throughout the A24 film, Hayley is depicted as antagonistic and disapproving of Mia's solitary nature following her mother's death. However, the film does not focus explicitly on gender identity, and Hayley's character does not explicitly state their own identity. Gender is not mentioned at all in the film, as it instead delves into the souls of the partygoers and Mia's descent into madness.

The Gulf has banned a film for the first time due to the identity of one of its actors. However, this is not the first instance where successful movies have been banned due to social politics. Oppenheimer faced criticism for its portrayal of Bhagavad Gita, while Marvel Studios' Eternals sparked discussions when Disney refused to make edits.

Although Talk To Me contains extremely unsettling visuals, such as a teenager engaging in intimate acts with a dog, the casting of a trans actor is deemed unacceptable. This inconsistent approach has plagued the film industry for years, resulting in the failure of numerous exceptional films to reach their intended audiences.

Talk To Me is currently showing in theaters.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter