The Black Phone

The Black Phone

Finney Blake, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

  • Released: 2022-05-29
  • Runtime: 102 minutes
  • Genre: Horror, Thrillers
  • Stars: Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Banks Repeta, Kellan Rhude, J. Gaven Wilde, E. Roger Mitchell, Gina Jun, Ryan Cronan, Braxton Alexander, Andrew Farmer, T. Maxwell Martin, Brady Ryan, Jacob Moran, Jordan Isaiah White, Spencer Fitzgerald, Kristina Arjona, Tristan Pravong, Ron Blake, Robert Fortunato, Chris TC Edge, Mark Riccardi, Brady Hepner, Troy Rudeseal, Megan Petersen, Bay Allebach, Ray Strachan, Mike Bailey, Christine Connelly, Matthew Simmons, Ray Strachan, Ray Strachan, Miguel Cazarez Mora, Rebecca Clarke, Sheila M. O'Rear, Rocco Poveromo, Parrish Stikeleather
  • Director: Scott Derrickson
 Comments
  • shantimodella - 5 June 2024
    Amazing idea, but expected more
    The movie was definitely amazing. Interesting plot for who likes the genre. Excellent, top choice of the actors for sure, and praise the director for that. But they could'v done so much more, I mean all those beautiful and good actors acting some mini parts in the show, while Finney is always down in the basement. They could'v showed so much more like how they got kidnapped and more about their lives like u can't add characters like that and say so little about them. It looked like rushed the movie as they tried to put everything in with so little scenes and like those little phrases also being repeated, seemed like LAzy. People could definitely like the characters but they want to know and see more about them, and so this little scenes is disappointing. They could'v done so much more. The plot is wasted when the movie is so disappointing and kind of dull sometimes. With all they could'v done and they didn't...
  • helaumur - 7 May 2024
    I really liked it
    I really liked this film. Some parts I found disturbing as it echoed my own child hood when he was beating his daughter. The kid actors are really good and you really believe in them. I think there could have been a few murder scenes as you don't actually see any violence only the after math. It may have been good to be told both the brother and sister have psychic powers as I didn't get who and how they were calling. Ethan hawke was really scary in it. I love the kid that beat up the bully I got that he was the hero in this and would love to have seen more of him. The little girl actor was really good too.
  • view_and_review - 24 February 2024
    Stephen King Vibes
    There are a couple really good movies that feature a phone--"When a Stranger Calls" (1979) and "Black Christmas" (1974). "The Black Phone" takes place in 1978 so it is actually right in line with the two movies I mentioned.

    In "The Black Phone" children are being kidnapped in the suburbs of north Denver. The kids have nicknamed the kidnapper "The Grabber." The movie centers around Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), brother and sister. They are middle school aged and live with their alcoholic and abusive, widowed father Terrence (Jeremy Davies).

    Gwen has a special ability. She sees things in her dreams that actually occurred. Her father hates when she talks about her dreams as though they're real because their mother was driven mad by her dreams. Gwen saw some key details about the kidnapping of Bruce Yamamada (Tristan Pravong) in her dream and her dad severely beat her for mentioning it.

    When her brother Finney was kidnapped she was actively trying to bring on her dreams to find a clue as to his whereabouts. We also got to see what The Grabber was all about. He kept his victims in a soundproof basement with a single window about eight feet above the ground, a toilet, a bed, and an inoperable black phone mounted on the wall. The phone had a cut cord yet it would ring. Whenever it rang Finney heard the voices of past victims giving him clues on how to survive and possibly escape. It was a suspenseful horror that kept me on edge.

    There are fewer things scarier to a parent than having their child kidnapped. As a parent myself I was anxious throughout this entire movie that was a little bit supernatural and a lot bit determined folks trying to catch a psycho. The supernatural phone calls to Finney were a nice touch. It was very akin to something Stephen King would've cooked up. It made the movie a little more unique than it would've been as a straightforward kidnap thriller ala "Prisoners" (2013) and others.
  • TruView - 9 January 2023
    ...was a Child Abduction thriller a la 'Stranger Things'
    This neatly packaged film depicting the late 70s had plot points thoughtfully shepherded by the exuberance of heady teenage bravado making it easily digestible to viewers of all ages. However, a thin layer of vulnerability and even death -including sexual abuse; which was thankfully only intimated by a fade to black with camera speed slowing to half time added just the right amount of panache giving it a strong sense of realism. In that regard, it was very much like the very popular 'Stranger Things' streaming series which debuted back in 2016.

    Ethan Hawke's performance as child predator-monster was perhaps a little too convincing, but that's what makes this such a nightmare in my humble opinion, because something like this could happen -indeed, has already happened in point of fact. It's pacing was good but its summary conclusion was even better.
  • LeonLouisRicci - 3 January 2023
    Nothing New...Demented-Joker-Clown Poster Magnetic...Fails To Live Up To The Pull
    Director Scott Derickson Previous Films, "Sinister" (2012), "V For Vendetta" (2005), "Dr. Strange" (2016) are "Creme de la Cinema".

    One has to Wonder What Sent the Man on a Roll with His New-Millennium Success-Story to Back-Peddle with This Rather Flat "One-Trick" Movie.

    That being a Serial-Killer, Child-Abductor-Killer-Torturer. In an Iconic Scary-Mask.

    A Neighborhood Serial Killer who Fails to Provoke Suspicions, even by His Live-With Brother.

    All those Descriptors of the Killer are just That. Describing Verbally what "The Grabber" (Ethan Hawke) Did to the 5 Kids who were the Previous Victims.

    We See Nothing of this and the Descriptions are Vague, Vacuous, and Lack the Violence and Tragedy that the Words Standing In for Deeds are Ineffective and Fail to Compel.

    After All, Could Words Replace Deeds of this Sort in a Movie? This is Not a Book, but Based on a Short Story from the Stephen King Spawned Joe Hill.

    Someone Got Their Wires Crossed Thinking this "Blumhouse" Production Would Get-Buy on the Supernatural Gifts of the Victim's Sister, and that Mask. It Doesn't.

    Although the "Sis"is the Most Effective in Conjuring the Needed Entertainment Value.

    Any Competent Actor Could Have Delivered What Hawke Delivers and that is Virtually, an Unthreatening Stiff that Fails to be a Villain Worth Loathing.

    Overall, a Highly Overrated Movie that will Leave Most Horror Fans Thinking They Have Been Taken, Asking, What was that bit of Low-Budget Dysfunction that Fails to Erect the Penetration of the Needed Reason for its Existence.

    The Father of the Kidnapped Boy is 10 Times more Terrifying than the Killer who Goes from a Child-Beater to Father of the Year in a Heart-Beat.

    A Strangely an Ineffective Exercise in Misdirection and with No Payoff to Speak Of.

    Average at Best, a Buzz Movie that Stops Buzzing when Suckered-In Audiences Seeing that What is Revealed.

    A Con-Job that Seems Interesting Until the Mask is Removed.
  • Monsieur_Sardo - 29 December 2022
    More Like This
    I gave this film an 8/10. If this were a few years ago I would have given it a 7/10. Why the overrating? Because there are a dearth of films with decent writing and character arcs. This film, with its plot holes and all, has several characters that actually have true , realistic arcs. From the main character who has to learn to stand up for himself to his father who struggles to love his children while dealing with guilt from his past, it was nice to see that on screen.

    The performances were pretty strong across the board. Ethan Hawke was fun to watch, especially since much of his acting is done behind a mask. The child actors are all fairly strong. They actually made me think of the stories my siblings (all who grew up during the 1970's) would tell me about their wars with the neighborhood bullies. Yes, they're foul mouthed kids from the rough side of the tracks.

    Surprisingly, the film touches a lot on the faith, love and redemption of imperfect people. It might not blow your socks off, but I found this story and its characters to have a lot of heart.

    Minus the unique element of the film's namesake, the plot unfolds fairly straightforward. Could there have been more to it? Possibly. Did the team actually have the money to do that? Given the lack of locations I'm guessing not. Overall I thought it was fun , solid film. I hope we can have more films in all genres that have the heart I felt this film had.
  • tor-claesson - 28 December 2022
    Rushed and badly cast
    The Black Phone has a solid premise, interesting settings and some of the groundsworks of a more than half-decent plot. Sadly, a fairly short runtime and a bad main cast prevents it reaching but a sliver of its full potential.

    One of my greatest problems with the film is that I'm unable to care for our main protagonist, Finney. This is odd, since I always root for the bullied child, but with Mason Thames portraying Finney I find this highly difficult. His performance is awkward at best, never showing any of the emotions expected from a human being, making any sense of connection to his character near impossible.

    The film's main antagonist, The Grabber, played by Ethan Hawke, isn't much better. Being a supposed serial killer, I should feel some kind of dread when he's on the screen. But I never do. Instead, I do my best not to laught. A part of the problem could be Thames and his non-acting in their shared scenes, but an actor of Hawke's calibre should be able to make it work anyway. As is, I feel that Hawke crumbles behind the mask he is forced to wear.

    Outside if the main cast, other characters are slightly more interesting, with Finney's sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) being the true highligh of the film. Sadly her screen time isn't enough to make me feel anything but underwhelmed when the end credits roll.
  • sgmi-53579 - 4 December 2022
    Very good modern horror
    This is the kind of stuff horror fans live for. An original idea and screenplay, pulled off with little fanfare and great skill. While a child killer is terrorizing a small town, we meet Finney Blake, who is to become his next victim. Locked in a soundproof basement, an old disconnected phone begins to ring. Horror is often best left simple, and the tightly constructed screenplay leaves not a frame wasted. The young cast are all wonderful, giving the film a real sense of naturalism, and Ethan Hawke manages to be terrifying with a look or a glance. Set in the 1970-somethings, this will remind many of their beloved horror classics, and find a spot not too far away on their shelves. Very good.
  • emilaoj - 18 November 2022
    Compets with, prisoners and the lovley bones
    This is by far the best movie i have seen in a while. Great story, suspens and overall it creeps in to your bones. Ethan hawke rerely disipoints and this is no exeption. Same time great child acting, Will be Looking out for these newcommers.

    This is the same genre as prisoners with jackman and gyllenhal and the lovley bones with Wahlberg witch is also great movies. There direction against Crime that shocks is vivid and extremely chilling.

    The undergoing tone of the movie that is split into the afterlife is a brilliant take.

    Regarding the end it is very pleasing altough realistilic perhaps not the case.
  • maraseren-87970 - 9 November 2022
    Pleasantly Surprised by this one
    I assumed at first glance this was going to be another run of the mill 'serial killer' horror, this movie genuinely surprised me. It is the first movie of its kind that I've seen which didn't glorify the killer in any way, no backstory for him, no humanising or attempts to tell his story, explaining or justifying a 'disturbed psyche' but actually one dimensional in the best sense. He's a bad guy, he's creepy, and that's about it. Instead, they really humanised the victim/s in a unique, original way. I love that Ethan Hawke took almost a backseat to the younger cast, think it was intentional and v clever.