Written And Directed by John Lee Hancock
Craig: "When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers. Oscar Wilde wrote that. We didn't read that book. Maybe we should have."
It's been a minute since I've watched an adaptation of a Stephen King novel and I went for something a bit more recent with this Netflix movie from 2022. It's been on my list for a while to be fair.
Focusing on a friendship between a socially awkward teenager named Craig Poole (Jaeden Martell) and retired businessman John Harrigan (Donald Sutherland). It's an odd but rather sweet friendship.
In the movie, we got see Craig introduce Harrigan to the concept of a smartphone, something which the latter had mixed feelings on. Saying that, he also loved the use of a certain song as his ringtone and then died.
The death of Mr Harrigan was where things would end up getting a bit strange for Craig. When he wasn't dealing with a bully named Kenny Yankovich (Cyrus Arnold) or having a crush on his teacher, Ms. Hart (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), then both of these people died, putting Craig in an awkward position.
Was the late Mr Harrigan really calling Craig from the great beyond and helping him? Craig seemed to believe he was but his father (Joe Tippett) was more doubtful of it. However there was something to Craig's belief the more he uncovered Harrigan's connection to his late mother.
The final scene in the graveyard did however bring things to a cathartic conclusion for Craig. He resolved his mommy issues and the hold that he had over Harrigan while making a keen observation about being buried with empty pockets.
- Craig won $3000 from a lottery ticket by Harrigan and the latter left him $800,000 after he died.
- This movie was based on the novella of the same name from the If It Bleeds book.
- Standout music: Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man.
- Chronology: The movie started off in 2003 with Craig going into high school in 2008.
Mr Harrigan's Phone might not be the strongest adaptation of a Stephen King story but it's a charming take on the source material regardless. Good performances from both leads certainly help.
Rating: 6 out of 10
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