The Black Phone Film Review (No Spoilers)

'The Black Phone' Blumhouse Productions

After appearing in one of the most well received horror films of all time in Sinister, Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Before Sunrise, The Purge) finds himself back on the horror scene with The Black Phone. After deciding not to return to Doctor Strange for a sequel, Director Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, Sinister, Deliver Us From Evil) takes his MCU talents and turns them darker for this chilling experience.

Synopsis:

"Finney Shaw is a shy but clever 13-year-old boy who's being held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer. When a disconnected phone on the wall starts to ring, he soon discovers that he can hear the voices of the murderer's previous victims -- and they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn't happen to Finney."

What You See, Feel, and Hear

Stephen King and his family's creative mind are becoming the source for the horror genre. (at least that's what it feels like) This film is an adaptation of the 2004 short story of the same name by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King. With each inspiration from Stephen King (and family) there seems to be aspects that tie all of these projects together. Though the timeframe is separated by roughly 10-15 years, The Black Phone and "It" share similarities that seem a bit unparalleled. The visuals; a grainy, vintage, and darker tone to give a more nostalgic 70s/80s depiction. The focal point of the story is centered on children and their ability to help each other. And of course, the antagonist being a horrific individual.

The detail in writing was quite impressive for a horror film. Usually, I tend to focus my attention in horror films to the music, the environments, and the possible "jump scare" opportunities. However, The Black Phone introduced a character, allowed the audience to invest in the character, and then showcased the obstacles that the character would have to go through in order to succeed. By placing details that seemed insignificant during the first half of the film that would later round out the character's arc was a perfect example of Scott Derrickson trusting the audience and their intuition to put the pieces together.

Two acting performances that stood out above the rest was Ethan Hawke as The Grabber and Madeleine McGraw as Gwen, the little sister to Mason Thames' character, Finney. Hawke provided a performance that was chilling, intriguing, and unpredictable. His character's motives were a bit hazy however he allows the audience to understand the type of person that his character is by simple expressions and body movements. McGraw showed us that raw emotion and organic comedy can intertwine together naturally. Her character stands at the forefront of emotion throughout this film and her dialogue and expressions dictate the direction of the story. At such a young age she shows viewers that her talents are just starting to take off.

My Take

I've always felt that Ethan Hawke has fallen under the radar in regards to his range as an actor. For someone who doesn't typically portray the antagonist in his projects (up until 2022) this role seemed to be written specifically for him. His portrayal, the movement of the story, the acting performances from the children, and the resolution in the ending all created an outcome that felt just right. Even with a couple gaps in the script this is a horror film that I look forward to revisiting. With classic jump scares, quality storytelling, and relatable fear mixed in with genuine emotion, you feel the adrenaline of a horror film and the satisfaction of a detailed story.

Grade: 7.6/10