My Review of The Black Phone (2021)

 

Written by Scott Derrickson And C. Robert Cargill

Directed by Scott Derrickson

Finney (to The Grabber): "It's for you!"

With a sequel due in theatres in October, I thought it was time to catch up with this one. I remember there seemed to be some positive buzz, so I had certain expectations for this movie.

Setting in the same year where movies like Grease, Halloween and Superman: The Movie was released, you had a town in terror. Why? Oh, because of a child snatcher named The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) of course.

In this movie, the focus was on sibling duo Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) and their alcoholic father, Terrence (Jeremy Davies). Terrence vented his anger out on his children while both also had to deal with bullies in school and classmates being victims of The Grabber.

Before we got to the halfway point of the movie, it was established that Gwen's dreams had a tendency of predicting future events (something she got from her deceased mother). This was something that Terrence literally tried to beat out of her until even he was forced to accept that she was telling the truth.

As for Finney, he became the latest victim of The Grabber. During his captivity, Finney had to play The Grabber's twisted "Naughty Boy" while also receiving phone calls from a black phone. The calls being from the ghosts of previous victims, including Finney's friend, Robin (Miguel Cazarez Mora). The latter encouraging Finney to fight back against The Grabber.

Of course between Gwen working with the police and her dreams providing clues and Finney giving The Grabber his just desserts, Finney ended up being the sole survivor of the serial killer's reign of terror. If anything, this movie seemed to give a very permanent comeuppance for The Grabber but we're getting a sequel.

- James Ransome (IT: Chapter 2) had the role of Max, who was the brother and final victim of The Grabber.

- A sequel of sorts titled Dreamkill does factor in anthology movie, V/H/S/85.

- Standout music: Pink Floyd's On The Run and Blind Blake's Early Morning Blues.

- Chronology: This film took place during 1978 in North Denver, Colorado.

The Black Phone made for a good cat and mouse serial killer/horror movie. There's strong performances between Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames but it also felt like something that should've been a one and done deal.

Rating: 7 out of 10