Director: Scott Derrickson
Writer: Joe Hill
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeline McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, and E. Roger Mitchell
A young man is abducted by a maniac and shoved into a soundproof basement where his only companions are the disembodied voices coming to him from the black phone mounted to the wall. Each call from the phone provides a clue for how to escape the lunatic’s clutches. Will he uncover the secret to the clues and find his way home? Or will he lose the game and become just another voice on the line?
The Black Phone is an outstanding supernatural thriller based on the work of award-winning author Joe Hill. Though the trope of teens being abducted isn’t new, this story offers a fresh perspective and hopefulness we don’t often see. The film is shrouded in mystery, some backstories are detailed and with others, we are left to draw our own conclusions. The main protagonist Finney is a shy soft-spoken young man who hasn’t had the easiest life. He lost his mother at an early age and is being raised by his alcoholic father. He’s constantly being bullied at school and lacks the strength to stand up for himself or his younger sister Gwen. The first act of the film sets the pace, offering glimpses into Finney’s day-to-day struggles, and closes with his abduction by “The Grabber”. Act two begins in the basement setting off a tidal wave of suspense.
Portrayed by Ethan Hawke with alarming creepiness, the grabber dons an interchangeable mask, that seems to adjust with his moods, a full mask during his calmest states and half masks at his most manic. Not unlike Pennywise the clown or Michael Myers the mask adds to the creep factor making the Grabber seem less of a man in costume and more like a monster. In one of the most intense scenes, the Grabber sits guarding the exit at the top of the stairs armed with a belt, fully asleep with a complete mask on he is likened to a gargoyle acting as a sentinel of a fortress. Simple but effective imagery, the masked stranger embodying the current threat, and the belt is a throwback to an earlier scene involving Finney’s father.
Aiding our hero in escaping the monster are two supernatural elements: the psychic Gwen and the black phone. As with most movies in this genre, the otherworldly connection is a necessary and valuable component. Gwen’s prophetic dreams and fighting spirit add heart as well as a connection to life outside the basement. We follow the investigation into the disappearance through her eyes and actions. She also provides some comic relief with her wit-infused potty mouth. The black phone helps tie Finney to the boys before him, offering insight into their final moments not to mention the frightening jump scares at their appearances or the imagery they choose to share. Enthralling from start to finish The Black Phone is one of the best films we’ve seen this year. The story is a refreshing take on a familiar trope and the acting is superb. Though a brilliant film in its own right we couldn’t help but notice the various nods to Stephen King’s cult classic IT. We won’t spoil the fun by revealing which scenes but fans will definitely pick up on more than one reference to the work of Stephen King, which is clearly an homage to Joe Hill’s dear old dad just in time for father’s day.
The Black Phone hits theaters this Friday, June 24, 2022.