The Black Phone

CinemaSerf

June 25, 2022

7/10

The thing about adapting a short story for cinema is that we tend to get a great deal of padding to get it to the duration. This film is certainly guilty of that, with the first half hour spent on way too much character establishment that really has very little to do with the gist of the story. Once it does get going though, it's a cleverly crafted and well put together scary movie centred around "Finn" (Mason Thames). Bullied at school, he is protected by his friend "Robin" (Miguel Cazarez Mora…

With supernatural dread lifted directly from the likes of _Stir of Echoes_ and _The Sixth Sense_, _The Black Phone_ features a breakthrough performance from Madeleine McGraw while Ethan Hawke’s hauntingly memorable turn as The Grabber is felt in a hair-raising sense; like someone who has unknowingly snuck up behind you and waits in your peripheral for that dramatic reveal. _The Black Phone_ is a solid, pulse racing horror film that packs a punch, but seems like the type of film that simply won’t…

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/the-black-phone-spoiler-free-review "The Black Phone carries a horror premise with a supernatural touch full of potential, but it plays too safe by betting on a narrative that's too simple, predictable, and repetitive. Scott Derrickson elevates his work with a distinct style, and the fact that the main focus belongs to the protagonists development rather than on generic jumpscares pleases me. Mason Thames and Madeleine …

Nathan

July 5, 2022

8/10

The Black Phone is a paranormal abduction thriller that balances the tension/despair of being trapped and the ghost elements very well. The movie does a great job setting up the main characters in the beginning that gives you a relationship with them and genuine desire for them to succeed. There are a few plot points that are a little questionable, but are they are minor nitpicks and didn’t pull me out of the story too much. The performances all around were great. Ethan Hawke does fantastic in h…

Horseface

July 24, 2022

1/10

I had to abandon this very early on, as I couldn't see anything. I'm pretty sure it was daytime, because kids were going to school, but it was so darkly lit that it looked like late dusk. I think there was a sun in the sky, but it might have been a firefly. I put my TV on "vivid," but it couldn't remedy the problem. Maybe there's a good movie in here, but the production is clearly broken, so if you have an HDR TV, you won't be able to see anything.

Steve Parker

August 14, 2022

8/10

THE BLACK PHONE is a haunting and suspenseful new thriller starring Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Ethan Hawke, and directed by Scott Derrickson. 13-year-old Charlie is kidnapped by a child murderer and locked in a soundproof basement. The previous victims of the killer start calling Charlie on an out-of-service phone. These chilling calls give the boy a chance to save himself and others from the killer's clutches. THE BLACK PHONE is suspenseful and scary without the need to have onsc…

JPV852

August 18, 2022

6/10

Had some decently suspense-filled moments and Ethan Hawke was great but otherwise I found most of this pretty forgettable, yet still worth watching as a rental. **3.25/5**

The Movie Mob

August 19, 2022

7/10

**Not quite a full-on horror movie but a well-done creepy thriller.** I love a good Blumhouse flick (and honestly, I love the bad Blumhouse flicks too). Thankfully The Black Phone is the former. Even though it’s more thriller than horror, The Black Phone is an eerie story that keeps the tension high. I was worried with the subject matter that Scott Derrickson could take things too far and into some tasteless places, but instead, the plot was intense and satisfying.