Scott Derrickson is back after a long while with 'The Black Phone' and needless to say The Black Phone is sure to send a chill down your spine!
Quick Synopsis: Finney, a 13-year-old boy is abducted by a serial child snatcher called 'The Grabber', held in a soundproof basement Finney starts getting phone calls from The Grabber's previous victims despite the landline being disconnected.
The movie opens up in Denver, Colorado and we're taken back to the 70s. Derrickson reunites with Ethan Hawke, who plays the role of 'The Grabber' who kidnaps young boys in broad daylight. On the other hand, we have Finney (Mason Thames), a young boy who is subjected to intense bullying at school, while he struggles to dodge his bullies his life isn't as jolly as you'd expect. He's stuck in a home with a father (Jeremy Davies) who loses his calm when he drinks, becoming abusive towards him and his sister. From the get-go, we can see that the atmosphere in which Finney resides isn't healthy. The copious amounts of abusive people in his life have made him timid and helpless, where instead of fighting he tends to run away or give up. Alongside Finney, we have his sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw). She is the opposite of her brother and has psychic powers that she inherited from her late mother.
The movie is unsettling in many ways. Derrickson perfectly portrays the eeriness of the town (ever since The Grabber terrorized it) and follows the idea of 'less is more'. He manages to genuinely scare the viewers, from being in a claustrophobic basement and showing Finney's genuine fear, desperation and yearning to survive. He doesn't offer you jump scares but your anxiety will be at its peak when watching the film. There are some extraordinarily terrifying yet memorable shots that are sure to keep you up at night. For example, that straight shot of a shirtless Hawke sitting in front of the door with his mask (which awfully reminds you of Pennywise) on, waiting for his victim to come out and try to escape so that he can beat him up and eventually kill him.
The director heavily relies on his cast to carry the movie, and the actors rightly do so. Finney's arc is probably one of the most encouraging arcs to watch, from being a shy, timid boy who fears everyone to fighting The Grabber through the help of the past victims. Finney brings out the fears of the audience, the sense of survival, and the endless thought of what will happen next. McGraw as Gwen does an outstanding job of bringing the supernatural bits of the film to light and also highlighting her character's rebellious attitude.
In conclusion, Derrickson along with his co-writer C. Robert Cargill brings out the childhood fears. Ethan Hawke's hoarse voice and scary mask raise the hair on your arms but the kids and their determination to fight back is what keeps you watching. The movie is going to keep you on the edge of your seats.
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