The Black Phone Review: Possesses Every Ingredient of a Great Horror Film!
In the last five years, Scott Derrickson has delivered both Sinister and Doctor Strange, two highly successful films displaying his talent in the horror genre, even in one of the biggest Marvel films so far this year. Sinister, considered one of the scariest film of all time based on BPM of resting heart rate versus elevated heart rate while watching the film, has always been one of my favorite scary movies. As a result, I was looking forward to The Black Phone to see what Derrickson was able to do next.
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Although this film may not be as scary as Sinister, it was just as good, if not better. Scott Derrickson creates a 1970s backdrop in a small Colorado town with The Black Phone, following the children who go to school there. When a man known as “The Grabber” (Ethan Hawke) begins kidnapping several children, Finney (Mason Thames) and his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) become invested when each of their friends goes missing.
The setting of the film is rooted in what it felt like to live in the 70s as a child rather than a backdrop banking on nostalgia from the audience. Scott Derrickson explained in his Q&A after the film that capturing the way it felt like when he lived in Colorado as a child in the 70s, and the trauma he faced was what he wished to portray through the film. As expected, he did just this. Nostalgia often helps us look back on “the good old day,” but what Derrickson shows is the true nature of what the past looks like behind all of the smoke and mirrors.
The serial killer and ghost genres were blended beautifully, adding a unique twist to both elements. Derrickson always does an incredible job in his direction, throwing in scary images when the audience least expects it. His script, at the core examines fear and love that not only makes for a terrifying film but a profound one too. The strong sibling bond and love between Finney and Gwen are ones we don’t see often, let alone in horror movies.
Ethan Hawke’s performance was highly unsettling in the best way but the child actors stole the spotlight. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw were able to take on a mature script that dealt with abuse and trauma to portray their characters realistically and heart-wrenchingly. These kids have great careers ahead of them.
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The Black Phone has everything one looks for in a great horror film. The scares are obvious, but the best horror scripts are ones that bring up real human experiences and evoke universal emotions. I would not skip out on seeing The Black Phone in theaters. Make sure to get your tickets this week!
‘The Black Phone’ Rating – 4/5
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