Review: The Black Phone

Story By: Jaden Brooks

Following my first viewing of filmmaker Scott Derrickson’s “The Black Phone,” I was speechless, to say the least. There were so many things to think about. Going into the movie I didn’t expect to be blown away or even want to watch it again but I couldn’t be more wrong. From beginning to end, the movie gripped you with intense, non-stop horror with deranged twists and turns.

The movie was based on the short story by Joe Hill and directed by Scott Dickerson. Set in 1978 in Boulder, Colorado, and follows a young boy named Finny Shaw played by Mason Thames who gets abducted by “the Grabber” played expertly by Ethan Hawke.  Locked away in a dark, sinister basement with only a mattress and an ominous black phone, Finny is reminded of the horrors and atrocities the Grabber has committed through the phone.

Even before the Grabber takes Finny, he struggles with an abusive alcoholic father and bullies at school. He only has a few friends but he always has his sister Gwen played phenomenally by Madeleine McGraw who plays a huge part in the film.

The horror-packed film has stunning shots from the grimy basement that make it all the more real and frightening. The movie’s atmosphere takes you back to the 1970s with the color palette This careful attention to detail improves the film to be scarier. Then when you add the outstanding cast to it I can’t see how it could get any better. From Gwen’s screams and Finny’s menace, you forget that they are just acting.

In the end, I highly suggest this movie to people who love horror movies and want that scary experience. From the breathtaking shots to the remarkable acting, you can’t go wrong with “The Black Phone.”