The Black Phone

Movie Name: The Black Phone
Year of Release: 2021
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, E. Roger Mitchell, Troy Rudeseal, Miguel Cazarez Mora, Rebecca Clarke, J. Gaven Wilde, Brady Hepner, Tristan Pravong
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
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Synopsis and Review

After his stint with Marvel and the successful "Doctor Strange", writer/director Scott Derrickson is back to his horror roots, with an adaptation of the short story by Joe Hill "The Black Phone". The narrative focuses on two siblings, who are living in the suburbs of Denver during the late 70s. Their neighborhood has been the focus of extra attention since quite a few children have gone missing, with the responsibilities for those events falling under the guise of an abductor, aptly named "The Grabber". Finney and Gwen live with their alcoholic and abusive father, since their mother has passed away. Finney is bullied frequently, but he has good support in Gwen and also Robin, who puts those same bullies in their place whenever he gets a chance to. Things start to dramatically change for them when The Grabber firstly takes Robin, and then takes Finney himself. Gwen who has psychic dreams, much like her mother, has been trying to help the police with additional clues, but is having some trouble getting a sense to where her brother is. Finney in the meantime wakes up in a basement, which has been sound proofed, with a disconnected phone on the wall, a mattress and a small bathroom. The phone however starts ringing, and when Finney picks up, he realizes it's the ghosts of the boys who have been killed, who want to have their comeuppance and also help him escape. 

One of the most interesting aspects to "The Black Phone" is how successfully Scott Derrickson manages to capture and define the paranoia and fear that existed in communities in the late 70s. With various serial killers being caught or on the prowl at that period in time, such as John Wayne Gacy, and the Hillside Stranglers, "The Black Phone" ties its narrative to that fear that most people had of predatory killers, something that this quiet suburb of Denver was not stranger to. The siblings at the core of the narrative are swiftly characterized, but the director still gives them enough nuance and distinctiveness to make them feel vividly compelling and not a standard cliché. When it comes to the supporting characters however, they're a bit underdeveloped, which is the case of the father, and even The Grabber himself. The film manages to maintain its watchability due to the compelling presence of its actors, and the fact that the narrative itself is a slow burner, that while never avoiding some horror elements, doesn't necessarily go for the gruesome or for gratuitous tricks. The cast is very effective in bringing these characters to life, with Ethan Hawke, James Ransone and Jeremy Davies batting for the more experienced adults, and Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw for the children, in the process ending owning the narrative in a decidedly compelling manner. The cinematography from Brett Jutkiewicz is solid, as is the score from Mark Korven. Worth watching.