The Black Phone (2022)

Mar 23

Written By Young, Wild & Freaked Media

Never Talk to Strangers.

Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone & Ethan Hawke

Director: Scott Derrickson

Written by: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill

Released: June 24, 2022 (US)

Budget: $16 million

Box office: $162.1 million

Distributed: Universal Pictures

Blumhouse can sometimes be hit or miss. I’m not a fan of every film they have produced, but they do always grab my attention when I see their name attached to any horror property. When they hit, they hit hard and I generally end up liking what I watched, but when they crash…it’s fatal.

One of the films I was once very excited to see was Sinister. I remember seeing that trailer and it immediately went on my must-watch list. As presumed, it didn’t disappoint at all, becoming one of the most eerie and bone-chilling films I’ve seen thus far. Those home videos will have you wishing you could unsee the film.

Cut to 2022, and we now have a reunion between the creative forces behind that film, bringing to life an adaptation of the short story written by Joe Hill.

So let’s walk in groups and stay on the lookout for a creepy van as we give The Black Phone a call.

I’m going to admit. Watching this film was a little hard for me once I started to ponder the horror of child abduction and murder. For some reason, my mind can’t fathom such evil being done. Even though I know perfectly well that it’s happening and doesn’t always have a happy ending. Seeing these fade to black cuts, indicating the boys got abducted, and then to see their faces on missing posters…I felt this dread that I don’t get with most horror movies. Not to mention that montage of Bruce Yamada with his parents. So heartbreaking. Perhaps it’s because I have a younger brother, so it hit close to home and if he were to have gone missing, Lord alone knows how frantic and affected I would be.

Then there’s Finney, our main protagonist and next victim. This actor did a wonderful job in this role. He was always so stoic and poised in this film. Not that he wasn’t afraid or scared — like the Robin character said, he may be afraid to fight, but he isn’t afraid to take a punch — I think this attitude ended up being his biggest strength. He is more strategic, and thoughtful and can accept what is so that he can approach the situation as required. Even when he faced off with the Grabber, who had a damn pitbull guarding the door and a fucking axe in hand, he kept his composure and executed his plan brilliantly. I wouldn’t have thought of any of that. Then again, he did have help from the boys so he had a lot riding on this plan to bring them justice too.

A character, who didn’t have much composure, was the sharp-tongued, potty-mouthed but lovable and badass sister Gwen. Who wouldn’t love a sister like her? She fucked that bully up with a rock in defense of her brother but also took a knock herself in the name of sibling loyalty. I couldn’t even consider her a supporting character, because she feels as much a main as Finney is. The supernatural dreams are as important to the plot to solve the case as Finney’s calls are and she has to go through her journey of self-acceptance in light of her father’s oppression of her gift. I love a sibling dynamic in horror; her relationship with her brother is sweet. The tender moment when she leaned her head on Finney’s shoulder after her asshole, alcoholic father beat her was another indication of how safe they felt with each other. Gwen’s battle with faith was also a necessary touch. It didn’t have an evangelical agenda but was a real depiction of how a relationship with God feels. Rocky and confusing to say the least. I think it’s wonderful to call on Jesus for help in the most desperate time of your life (I for sure have, and still do daily), but there are also moments where you feel so abandoned and confused by His lack of response or guidance, so I related to Gwen in those scenes.

The dad can go fuck himself. In no way does he get any redemption in my eyes. Even if he is trying to protect Gwen from being consumed by her gift like his wife/their mother was, in no way do you need to physically beat your child to that extent, especially if she threatens to drop your alcohol. So he can go to hell along with his apology.

Ethan Hawke is not true to the description of the short story, although smaller physically, he still brings menace and intimidation. He was able to kill so many victims successfully, so you can only imagine how scary he is. This version of the Grabber is a part-time magician, or so he says (who knows?), so he is very theatrical in his presentation and behaviour, making him extremely unpredictable. The masks resemble those art masks we all know 🎭and it’s like they have some hold over his identity. When Finney removes his mask, he responds frantically to get it back on. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but the victims say that their names are the first to go when they are killed, I would assume their identity fades away as well since they don’t remember much of who they are. The Grabber is his identity. Without the mask, Finney is stripping him of his name and identity. Leaving him powerless and what we all fear - to be nothing and meaningless.

I wouldn’t say this film is traditionally scary, but rather thrilling and tense. As mentioned the horror lies within the all-to-real nature of the story. It’s like we get to see what an abductee goes through and more sinisterly, what their final days look like. Mixing in the supernatural element didn’t bother me or take me out of the realism. I think it made the horror more palatable. Two horror moments looked a little cheap though: the jump scare got me with Paperboy, but the composition looked a bit off, and when Max, the brother, got the axe 🪓 to the head, the CGI effect looked quite cheap and unpolished too. Minor critiques but noticeable.

The 70’s era was depicted authentically, albeit I wasn’t born and didn’t live in that period, so I don’t know for fact or not, but it at least felt very true to the setting. You can always tell when a film is “cosplaying” the era, rather than depicting it as it truly is. From the styling to the muted, neutral cinematography to the references to other films and pop culture. It all helped to capture this everyday, middle-class 70’s American suburb.

I would highly recommend this film. It’s paced well. The performances are captivating and have you rooting and cheering for Finney and his sister. This also made me re-appreciate Ethan Hawke’s talent as an actor. He was able to make the Grabber his own and had me terrified to be captured by him. I look forward to him working with Scott Derrickson on another horror film. Make it happen Blumhouse.

I rate this film 4 out of 5 black balloons.

What did you think of the film? Share your thoughts below.