The Black Phone, which is based on Joe Hill’s story of the same name, takes place in a small Colorado town in 1978, and though it is a fictional tale, it is indeed a dark and disturbing one. This was not the most picturesque of periods in America, but for many people, it rings a bell even today since this was the period when the lids of a milk carton could easily be stripped off and kids would go missing and their pictures could be seen on the cartons.
The truth however is that many of these kids were never found and statistics show that it has never been the same again and such is the case in Scott Derickson’s (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) film, which revolves around a trend of kidnapping where children have simply disappeared order completely. The whereabouts of the children remain unknown and it appears that only one of the kids, a girl by the name Gwen played by Madeline McGraw, has the ability to see into the future or at least catch glimpses of the Grabber. This great unknown has instilled fear in the minds of children living in the neighbourhood.
As her brother Finney (Mason Thames), who is only thirteen, becomes the victim of a masked monster, Gwen accuses her father (Jeremy Davies) of being responsible for the boy’s kidnapping. He’s hesitant to hear, but the local cops, who are in need of a lead, tend to her and they embark on looking for the unfortunate teenager. Finney, now imprisoned in a pitch-black cellar, is also planning his escape. He doesn’t stand much chance seeing as the Grabber is bigger and stronger than him. Fortunately, help comes eventually when the phone, hanging in the corner, starts ringing. Strange how it is helped by some words, which turn out to be the ghosts of the Grabber’s dead victims. Would not call it a good customer service. Would be the customer service that advises him how to avoid the fate that would otherwise await him.
This particular film in the view of some critics is similar to many others since it tells about kidnapped children, although the inclusion of supernatural elements in the spine chilling plot makes it different from the films that it is supposed to bear certain resemblance with. With that said however the film is also very disturbing with its illustrations of child abuse, bullying and violent parents and the eerie feeling that Derrickson succeeds in establishing underpins the sinister story that he seeks to tell.
There will also be moments in the film when viewers feel as helpless and contemplating despair like Finney does when he unsuccessfully tries to shake off the clutches of the manic who preys on him throughout the film as a teenage boy who has no luck it seems. The perspective takes a change when the titular black phone starts ringing and the audience are expected to be excited that there are calling spirits, forgetting the fact that these spirits did not escape the Grabber so the atmosphere created is one of deep sadness because the audience can only think that Finney is likely to meet the same end.
I wouldn’t go further to tell more about the plot however I will say if you are courageous enough to peep into this horrifying tale of horror, the movie has quite a number of surprises in store for you. And I do urge you to go and watch this as it is among the best horror films in the last couple of years.
Hawkes does evoke a sense of dread as the child stealing serial killer and his performance makes quite an impression. But while this is likely the novelty that gets the greatest mention among the visitors of this movie, it is probably Thames who delivers the most powerful portrayal since he has the task to cause himself every terror derived feeling abstracted to his borrowed younger version’s face. His portrayal is wonderful and if justice prevails, he should become one of the most successful actors just like Hawke whose talents were visible at a quite young age in the late 80s.
While there are clear parallels to IT and Stranger Things considering the small town setting and kids in danger storyline, to Derrickson’s credit once again he manages to bring in his own story which might be scarier. Pennywise is a horrifying character that’s for sure but originating from trans dimension where children can never truly expereince it’s true terror, quite pale in comparison to a human who actively seeks children only for his sick enjoyment. The Grabber is terrorising because we have his living counterparts out there who do so without the need to cover their faces with a frightening mask. Any parents who had made the mistake of watching The Black Phone along with their kids will surely think twice before allowing them to venture the streets alone.
For the most part, this is all quite frantic and scary and the beginning sequences are very good as we start to find out more about Finney and some of the other teens in the neighborhood. The abduction scene is exceptionally creep inducing and we see and hear the ghosts of the Grabber’s victims and moments portray that effectively as well.
In The Black Phone, the only real issues are the ending which seems too hasty, and the absence of the backstory of the Grabber, which seems unjustified. These are however very minor imperfections in an otherwise very good film but if only Derrickson would devote his time to elaborate on the movie, it would have been a future masterpiece for sure.
Nevertheless, there is certainly much to appreciate over here, if ‘appreciate’ is not the most uncomfortable way to put it in the context of a movie about child abducting and murder. It is one of the finest Blumhouse’s production and one which is bound to leave you disturbed for days on end. This may be considered Derickson’s finest works to date (Sinister however is no pushover in this aspect) and shows that horror genre still has the ability to nauseate the audience without showing excessive graphic scenes and violence.
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