HipsterZOMBIEJoint Movie Review: The Black Phone
HipsterZOMBIEJoint Experience
2 min read
Director Scott Derrickson’s “The Black Phone,” which is adapted from a Joe Hill short story of the same name, is a thrilling new film from Blumhouse.
The film stars Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, and Ethan Hawke. In the film, an abducted teenager (Thames) uses a mysterious telephone to communicate with the previous victims of his captor (Hawke).
In 1978, a serial child abductor nicknamed “The Grabber” prowls the streets of a Denversuburb. Siblings Finney and Gwen Blake live in the area with their abusive, alcoholic father. At school, Finney is frequently bullied and harassed. He has a friendship with a classmate, Robin, who fends off the bullies. One of Finney’s acquaintances, Bruce, is abducted by The Grabber. Gwen, who has psychic dreams much like her late mother, dreams of Bruce’s kidnapping and sees that he was taken by a man in a black van with black balloons. Detectives Wright and Miller interview Gwen but struggle to believe her claims. The Grabber abducts Robin, as well as Finney days later. Finney awakens in a soundproofed basement. On the wall is a disconnected black rotary phone that The Grabber says does not work. Later, Finney hears the phone ring and answers it. Bruce, unable to remember his own name or who he was when he was alive, tells Finney about a floor tile he can remove to dig a tunnel to escape.
Throughout the film Finney is aided by the various victims of the Grabber. Thethird act culminates in a final confrontation between Finney and the Grabber.
Ethan Hawke is absolutely terrifying as the Grabber. It’s his oft-putting way he carries himself along with his garish, horned drama masks that make him one of Blumhouse’s most iconic villains to date.
Also not to be left out, the children actors here are extraordinary. Mason Thames who plays Finney and Madeleine McGraw who plays the younger sister, Gwen, really give their all in their performances.
The Black Phone is a midsummer treat for horror fans and is one of those films that Blumhouse just knows how to hit out of the park. It’s a pulse pounding throwback to slasher films of yesteryear and is easily one of the top horror films of this year.
In conclusion HipsterZOMBIEJoint Experience highly recommends checking out The Black Phone streaming now on VOD.
