Review of The Black Phone (2022) by Bertobellamy — 29 Jun 2022
Stephen King looms all over 'The Black Phone' — Joe Hill, the writer of the short story the movie is based on, is one of his sons —, but the danger of turning it into a derivative film is never fully materialized. It's great when horror films have something to say about our nature or a social problem, and this is one of those. Violence only generates more violence, and Scott Derrickson's screenplay frames this premise with concepts like bullying and living in an abusive environment. Ethan Hawke — who should accept more villain roles now — and the child actors are amazing, especially the little girl, who is very likable and funny. But there's a character in there who seems out of place. You'll know who when you see him.
'The Black Phone' doesn't break any new ground, and the ending may feel a little underwhelming and predictable, but the way Derrickson delivers tension, very calculated jump scares, and an intimate but socially relevant story is what distances this one from other generic mainstream horror films.
This review of The Black Phone (2022) was written by Bertobellamy on 29 Jun 2022.
The Black Phone has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
