“Touch Me” follows Joey and Craig, two codependent friends who become addicted to the touch of an alien narcissist who may or may not be trying to take over the world.
A Bold Opening That Sets the Tone
Olivia Taylor Dudley (Joey) immediately showcases her talents in “Touch Me.” The film takes a bold approach in its opening scene with straightforward, one-sided dialogue… for 10 minutes. All of this exposition lies on Dudley’s shoulders; no cuts or distracting edits, just a slow zoom-in on her face. She absolutely nails this.
It’s not just any normal conversation either, instantly verging into weird topics that will attract or repel audience members. “Touch Me” isn’t shy about its premise. While the film could have kept certain aspects hidden, it reveals its comedic sci-fi nature with no hesitation.
“So yeah, I fucked an alien. An alien named Brian. I mean, that wasn’t his real name. He got it out of a baby book. He never actually told me his real name. But yeah, we fucked under the glowing trees because, like, what else are you supposed to do?”
Jordan Gavaris (Craig), Lou Taylor Pucci (Brian) and Marlene Forte (Laura) also star in the film — all three delivering equally impressive performances. Gavaris’ carefree delivery brings much of the movie’s comedy, providing the perfect contrast to the other three leads. Pucci is mysterious, but has a charismatic delivery that almost makes him an enigma. While Forte has the least screen time, she still does enough to remain memorable.
From Minimalism to Full-Blown Chaos
After the initial simplicity, “Touch Me” has a major switch-up. An easy word to describe the film is “quirky.” Right after the title card appears, the tempo is upped. Director of photography Dustin Supencheck and editor Jess Weber clearly have fun with the visuals.
There are circular pop-ups, distorted visuals, slow-motion shots and other creative choices that add to the out-of-this-world nature of the movie. It also tests different aspect ratios to establish the various realities or mental spaces the characters are in.
Eventually, “Touch Me” turns into an acid trip. While the opening is so simple, everything after is exaggerated. This will likely be jarring for some viewers — but somehow, it works. This is because director Addison Heimann has such a tight grip on the story.
The topics of mental health, addiction and trauma are prevalent in “Touch Me.” They’re just not explored in the typical ways you might expect.
Weird, Bloody and Surprisingly Grounded
Through the lens of its bizarre premise, the film manages to traverse these subjects with ease. The conversations between characters are meaningful, and the relationships feel authentic because of the commitment to development. As it moves further into bizarreness, these aspects grow more meaningful — because that commitment to character remains.
Blood levels rise as the 100-minute runtime progresses. In these moments, “Touch Me” shows off impressive practical effects. Fans of body horror, especially, will likely be satisfied. On top of the tentacle-driven chaos, the film features plenty of traditional carnage that supplements the weirdness.
These are the type of effects many will label as “cheesy.” And yes, they are. But that’s purposeful, adding another layer to the film’s identity.
“Touch Me” can get too weird for its own good at times. Aspects of the narrative grow repetitive, retreading the same material in slightly different ways. This causes some segments to fall flat while others shine.
The tonal balance isn’t perfect either. Blending sci-fi, horror, comedy and romance, “Touch Me” can feel like it’s doing too many things at once. This adds to its originality while also making it feel disconnected.
There may be too much “cross-species intercourse” in “Touch Me” for some viewers’ liking. If you’re looking for something that is weirdly original, however, this is that. It’s a film that will undoubtedly land with a niche audience.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
