在视听处理上，导演有意淡化戏剧冲突。数字修复为历史影像带来革新，全彩上色让历史更加鲜活，画面呈现拓展表现空间。但技术使用十分克制，整体色彩保持历史本色。整体表现注重意义深度。色彩选择体现历史责任感，声音设计追求简约效果。Suspendedbetweencarefreeyouthandtheharshrealitiesoftheadultworld,ateenagegirlexperiencesanunsettlingawakeninginthishauntingvisionofinnocencelost.Basedonthecelebratedshortstory“WhereAreYouGoing,WhereHaveYouBeen”byJoyceCarolOates,thenarrativedebutfromJoyceChoprafeaturesarevelatorybreakoutperformancebyLauraDernasConnie,thefifteen-year-oldblacksheepofherfamilywhosesummertimeidyllofbeachtrips,mallhangouts,andinnocentflirtationsisshatteredbyanencounterwithamysteriousstranger(amemorablymenacingTreatWilliams).WinneroftheGrandJuryPrizeatSundance,SmoothTalkcapturesthethrillandterrorofadolescentsexualexplorationasittransformstheconventionsofacoming-of-agestoryintosomethingaltogethermoretroublingandprofound.