The Black Phone

Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, E. Roger Mitchell, Troy Rudeseal, James Ransone, Miguel Mora, Rebecca Clark, Tristan Pravong
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Thriller
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1


Summary: In the north of Denver, multiple kids begin to go missing with very few clues as to whom is abducting them.

Review:

Tim: I'm definitely a fan of director Scott Derrickson. The Exorcism of Emily Rose is still one of my all-time favorite horror movies. His other films haven't reached those heights, but Deliver Us From Evil, Doctor Strange, and Sinister are all effective, worthwhile movies. I'd put The Black Phone in that same arena. It probably comes in below those other films, but I will never complain too much about a good horror movie- that's always cause for celebration.

Now, I've never read Joe Hill's short story, so I can only address the movie. However, I felt like the biggest detriment to the film was the script. How much of this is due to Hill's original writing (or his work on the screenplay), I don't know. But, I felt like the story delivered this unique spin on the serial killer story and yet asked for immense suspension of disbelief. As the film progresses, it just became harder and harder to take any of this seriously. This story doesn't just wade into the supernatural, it dives headfirst and asks you to go along. This hurts the movie, for sure. What helps and to some extent, counteracts this, is the fact that Derrickson is such a solid director. He makes this a good movie, despite some of the weaknesses with the script (note- Derrickson is credited as a writer on this, too, so he doesn't escape blame). I wish the story was easier to believe.

Besides that aspect, the story really does hold our attention. It's about a serial killer abducting children in Denver. The police are baffled how he continues to do this, especially considering many of the abductions take place during broad daylight. They've nicknamed him "The Grabber", which is an okay moniker, I suppose. What really brings this to the next level are two things- the mask, and Ethan Hawke's performance. The mask is beautifully constructed in an incredibly frightening manner. I was mesmerized by the mask's different forms and I tried to understand if there was some symbolism to it. It's beyond frightening and clearly is the most iconic aspect of the film. Ethan Hawke does a very nice job in the role, too. It's absolutely a supporting performance- he gets less screen time than I would have expected and he's mostly behind the mask. However, Hawke is an actor with range and he calls upon that to deliver an uncomfortable and memorable performance.

The rest of the cast is solid. I really like Mason Thames' performance in the lead role. He brings a great deal of confidence to his performance, which is ironic because the character isn't very confident. Thames shows fearlessness in his portrayal of a kid who spends most of the film afraid. He seemed authentic in his acting and he was able to establish a connection with the audience. We care about Finney and quickly become invested in his story. Madeleine McGraw gives a strong performance as well. Her character's story felt a bit turbulent and wasn't always as effective as it could have been. I wish the writing had been better. However, I have no faults with McGraw- she's incredible for such a young actress. I really enjoyed seeing Jeremy Davies here in a challenging and difficult role. He wasn't always easy to watch, but he commands your attention on screen. He was especially effective. James Ransone added a nice supporting performance, too. I wish we had more time with Tristan Pravong, he was quite good, too. The cast as a whole was surprisingly good, considering Hawke and Davies were the only immediately recognizable actors for me.

I'm curious about the screenplay process, to transform Hill's short story into a feature length film. I can guess at the areas that were expanded on. It felt like that part worked well. The movie is only 1 hour, 43 minutes. It might drag in a few places, but only for a few moments. Derrickson quickly picks up the pace and moves the film forward. It felt like there was plenty to explore with the different characters and it held my attention throughout.

The Black Phone has some flaws, but it also throws a unique spin on a sub-genre of film we've seen many times before. Derrickson competently directs it and delivers another entertaining, uncomfortable horror movie. This film won't rank among the best, but it's a movie that is absolutely worth our time.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister, Deliver Us From Evil, The Purge