The Black Phone (Joe Hill)

GOT U COVERED 📗

Author: Joe Hill

Title: 20th Century Ghosts (a collection of short stories).

Published: 2005

Publisher: PS Publishing (UK)

Genre: Horror, Thriller

“…his voice trailed off and he frowned, watching the balloons bobbing into the low overcast of the sky.

The sight of them disturbed him in some way. No one wanted black balloons; what were they good for, anyway? Festive funerals?”

SYNOPSIS 📖

As a young boy finds himself trapped in a basement after being abducted by “The Galesburg Grabber”, he discovers a disconnected phone that allows him to hear the whispers of the previous victim. With each call, he uncovers the horrifying truth behind a serial killer's sinister spree while also receiving help to survive from an unlikely source. Gripping and suspenseful, this short story delves into the depths of fear and the resilience of the human spirit. Proving dynamite comes in small packages. 

The part-time clown hit him in the face with a blast of white foam.

Finney started to turn his head away, but was too slow to avoid getting it in his eyes.

He screamed and took some in the mouth, tasted something harsh and chemical.

THOUGHTS 📖

We all know the warnings our parents gave us - “don’t talk to strangers”, and for many of us that gave us an extra sense of alertness that we still have today when someone sketchy is within proximity. While I knew that I could be snatched away, my mind never thought of what could happen after that - murder. It’s unfortunately the reality we live in. Child abductions are constantly making headlines and sadly, not many have a happy ending. Horror movies that feel ripped from the headlines are a little harder for me to digest. Humanity and the decline thereof is something I don’t often like to think too long and hard on, and films like these make me realise that horror isn’t just in escapism but rooted in reality. 

I’m not entirely familiar with Joe Hill’s written work. I only know what has been adapted through distant observation, but I have never engaged with anything that he is associated with. However, after reading this, I may need to start. At only 30 pages, this short story successfully gave me a sense of unease, tension, and chill the same way the movie did. It was paced well, not feeling rushed or too condensed at any point. It gave a generous amount of story that felt well-balanced and carefully plotted. 

Hill’s writing is descriptive and character-driven, yet does not miss a beat on the necessary action needed to tie this story in a chilling bow. From the opening sentence, he immediately grabbed my attention and importantly, my imagination. His writing provides a lot of imagery that makes it easy to play the narrative and events in your head. Similarly, it felt like I was the character of Finney, because of how well he was able to transport me into this world. Every one of my senses was engaged and alert in this story, which I think is quite fitting since the Finney character had to be on guard and alert in an attempt to escape.

Speaking of Finney, I enjoyed this character. He used all his might and wits to get himself through this awful situation. He isn’t your typical hotheaded teen, he feels more reserved and observant.  The think before he acts type.Which is probably what helps him to survive. However, he isn’t a pushover too. To still hold some sort of authority and composure, I like that he challenges Albert and is willing to call him out on his mind games and false promises.

Albert, the Grabber and part-time clown, gave me the eek. The idea of what this man looks and behaves like is enough to want to take several showers. Although, very different from what Ethan Hawke looks like in the film, he still reads as a threatening character and should not be underestimated. The story makes a point of telling us that he has been successful with other kidnappings and murders before, and hasn’t been caught yet, so whatever judgments Finney or the reader makes, we may want to consider his track record.

The supernatural element of the Black Phone is in some way the light at the end of the tunnel. Although creepy in theory, it was like Finney had guardian angels giving him all the guidance he could get to be the one out of the bunch to survive and stop more murders from happening. The phone was quite literally his lifeline and comes into play beautifully like some poetic justice towards the end of the short story.

I highly recommend giving this a read. If you’re a fan of the film, you’ll without a doubt love this. The movie took 90% of this story and incorporated it into the film, so it had to have been pretty strong to not skew too much to the left. At 30 pages, it’ll take you no less than 30 minutes but will have you satisfied and full.

I grade this story an A+

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