Movie Review: The Black Phone

The Black Phone proves time and time again that Scott Derrickson understands the horror movie genre on a level most directors don't. The man has had an interesting run of films up to this point, but it can be argued his most successful ones are The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Sinister. The dude is a master of suspenseful horror and I find he's one of the few people who can utilise jumpscares in a very effective way that doesn't feel obnoxious. His latest horror film; The Black Phone shows Derrickson is willing to tackle more grounded concepts of horror with a sprinkle of the supernatural and I think it really works well in delivering a captivating and suspenseful experience to watch through.

The Black Phone follows the perspective of two sibling children living in Denver, Colorado. Set during the 1970's the streets of Denver are being constantly stalked by a serial child abductor known as the Grabber. The Grabber (Played by Ethan Hawke) is known to prowl the streets in his black van, wearing a notably creepy mask and leaving behind a collection of black balloons in the place of the children he abducts. Finney, a timid and nervous middle-schooler (Played by Mason Thames) ends up unfortunately being one of the abductees of the Grabber and the film follows his story as he attempts to break out of the basement cell the Grabber has him locked up in before it's too late. The reason time is against Finney becomes clear when the ghosts of all the children that he's killed prior begin to ring up Finney on a supposedly unhooked black phone on his cell wall. They warn Finney of what happened to them and try to give him suggestions on ways to escape the Grabber before he ends up joining them. 

As far as the plotline goes, it's a really captivating story. I think the idea of a child serial killer is a frightening concept to play around with, especially in the way Derrickson shoots the film to a very grounded and realistic angle (minus the supernatural phone!). You are filled with a constant sense of dread whenever the Grabber is on screen because he feels like someone who genuinely could be out there planning and abducting kids. That sense of terror his presence embeds in the film plays a great motivator for Finney as a character to go through his own character arc. Finney while capable is shown in several early scenes to lack confidence to stand up for himself and those he cares about, which made him a perfect target for the Grabber. That's why the ghosts of the children play an integral part in motivating Finney to do everything he can to escape the fate that awaited them. His urge to survive plays a key role in developing Finney as a character and it was great to see the film showcase that so well. That tension that develops over the course of the film works brilliantly in delivering some truly memorable scares as it leads to the climatic final act. 

I think what Derrickson gets down so well is blending realism with supernatural elements. His ability to ground a story in a world that feels realistic and very akin to our own is not unnoticed. I know some people complain in comparison his supernatural elements feel weaker and that can be a fair criticism, but I feel the way it was done specifically in this movie feels commendable. The ghosts have an integral part in Finney and the Grabber's plot. The way they're woven into the film not just narratively but visually is very distinct. Their ghosts reflect the state the Grabber left them in and the film doesn't shy away from showing how horrible they were treat. There's a constant unnerving sense of sadness and death that looms whenever they reflect on their fates, but it's through their dark presence in the story that the movie generates a potential hope for Finney. It's a great clash of concepts in my opinion and it works well in developing the film into a solid experience to watch through.

The Black Phone is a really worth while watch all things considered. I love the acting from all the cast and the story the movie is out to tell is one that does feel incredibly unnerving and suspenseful. Scott Derrickson is a great director and his style and direction are on full display here and it's great to see this film so fully realised with a commendable cast. Ethan Hawke will be the main reason a lot of people will wanna watch this film, but I feel it's important to note how incredible Mason Thames is in this movie. His character is the central focus of the film and to put so much weight on his shoulders, Mason takes this film with all he has and delivers a phenomenal performance for such a young actor. Please go see this film if you have the desire, you won't be disappointed.