The Black Phone is a spine-chilling supernatural horror film released in 2021, based on a short story by Joe Hill with the same title. Directed by Scott Derrickson, the film has a runtime of 103 minutes and stars Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Madeleine McGraw, and Mason Thames in the lead roles. The story centers around a mysterious child abductor known as “The Grabber” who kidnaps and tortures children. However, one of his victims has a paranormal experience that helps him escape.
The film starts with a softball match played by Finney and his team. Bruce, one of Finney’s friends, becomes the victim of The Grabber in a bike ride around their neighborhood. Finney is devastated by the news and gets bullied by a group of kids. Luckily, his other friend Robin defends him. Gwen, Finney’s sister, possesses psychic dreaming powers and dreams about Bruce’s kidnap. She informs the detectives handling the case who then interview her. Days later, Finney encounters The Grabber and gets kidnapped too.
Finney then wakes up in a soundproof basement with limited amenities like a bed, a toilet, a carpet, and a disconnected black phone that always seems to ring. After multiple attempts to answer the phone, Finney finally talks to Bruce, who instructs him on how to escape through a removable tile. Finney’s father reports him missing to the police, and detectives start investigating the case with no leads. Meanwhile, The Grabber grows fond of Finney, feeling like he’s different from other kids he has abducted.
When The Grabber leaves, a phone call from another victim, Billy, warns Finney that if he tries to escape, he’ll end up caught and tortured like Bruce. Billy discloses the existence of a cable he can use to exit through the window frame. In his attempt to escape, Finney falls and injures himself severely, losing all hope of getting away. The story takes a sharp turn when Gwen dreams about her brother’s situation, and her father tries to find him with the help of detective Wright, detective Miller, and a local resident named Max.
In conclusion, The Black Phone is an exceptional adaptation of Joe Hill’s brilliant short story with excellent direction, screenplay, and performances. The film’s unique take on the horror genre and the paranormal elements adds an exciting twist to an otherwise predictable storyline. With its tense pace, spine-tingling moments, and the right mix of mystery and suspense, The Black Phone is an excellent horror movie for fans of the genre.
