Talk to Me’s Most Awkward Moment Was a Movie Magic Trick

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CAUTION: The following discussion delves into specific details about a shocking scene in the movie “Talk To Me”. If you have not yet watched this horror film, which can be found on Netflix with a subscription, I advise you to exercise caution and not linger too long.

It wasn’t easy, but I eventually concede that one of A24’s top horror films from 2023, the Australian production titled “Talk to Me“, left a lasting impression on me. Scenes like the eerie finale and the chilling possession sequence have stayed with me, but what truly startled me was when Daniel (Otis Dhanji), under possession, shared an extended, disgusting kiss with his girlfriend’s pet dog.

It’s quite likely that numerous admirers of the critically acclaimed horror film found themselves questioning the same thing I did following the scene: “Was that child actually kissing that dog?” But fear not, for this scene wasn’t a result of subjecting its actor to an awkward and unsanitary experience. Instead, it was a clever application of traditional movie wizardry that brought about the puzzling moment. To uncover the mystery behind this intriguing scene, continue reading below.

The Gross Moment Was Achieved With A Mix Of CGI And Puppetry

In their first film, “Talk to Me,” directed by Danny and Michael Philippou (with their next project, “Bring Her Back” set for May 2025), the protagonist Mia (Sophie Wilde) and her friends find themselves compulsively utilizing a spectral embalmed hand. This artifact grants individuals the power to summon malicious spirits, but as events unfold, things take an unexpected turn for the worse. Despite their youthful exuberance, trouble brews when Daniel tries it and unknowingly invites a sexually aggressive ghost to inhabit his body, causing him to inappropriately kiss Cookie.

[Michael’s words] “We didn’t actually have real interspecies interaction for the shot. Instead, we utilized a combination of clever filming techniques and CGI.

The scene involved Otis, portraying Daniel, giving a puppet resembling a dog a kiss that we created. Later, a dog was shown licking a Schmacko, an Australian brand of dog treat, from its owner. These two scenes were combined using visual effects in post-production, but no actual dogs were kissed!

The Endearing Way The Crew Made Otis Dhanji More Comfortable With The Scene

When Daniel emerges from his possessed state, he understands the events that unfolded and appears ashamed, which is quite understandable. Interestingly enough, the Philippou Brothers aimed to spare Dhanji from experiencing the same humiliation.

In this setting, Danny clarifies that they took steps to ensure the actor felt confident and ready for a potentially challenging scene – one that might be remembered as his least flattering – by involving others in the process.

To make the actor feel at ease, we collectively performed the ritual of possession. In other words, each one of us, including our producer and the camera person, participated in the performance, ensuring that no one felt embarrassed or awkward, as we had all gone through it.

Although the A24 film, known for its serious and unsettling themes, included a humorous touch, the creators (recognized for their comedic short films on YouTube’s RackaRacka channel) playfully referenced the somewhat comical scene between Daniel and Cookie in the credits with the line, “No animals were harmed and no dogs were kissed.” If you noticed this and wondered how it could be true, now you understand.

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2025-04-04 16:07