THE SET-UP
Finney (Mason Thames), a shy 13-year-old boy, is kidnapped by a sadistic killer named The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) and held in a soundproofed basement. However, 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’re determined to make sure what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney. Also stars Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies and James Ransone. Directed by Scott Derrickson.
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THE DELIVERY
The black phone is a throwback to the gritty, psychological horror thrillers of the late 1960s and 1970s, and it makes for a damn entertaining movie.
Led by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, Sinister), The black phone is atmospheric and menacing, as it follows a child killer who preys on a quiet neighborhood who seems naively oblivious to the evil that haunts them. Located in 1978, The black phone is a departure from current movies that don’t quite “get” the 70s feel in their recreations. Derrickson nailed it here, though, and not just in the costumes and visuals. The atmosphere of the 70s is authentic and the kids feel like they were wondering from the 1976s The bad news bearsand not the latest CW show.
In the director’s commentary, Derrickson talks about growing up in a quiet Denver neighborhood and how he incorporated his experiences directly into the film’s characters, story, and settings. His approach works so much better than nostalgic shows like Weird stuff, which exaggerate the cultural recalls into parody. While the era is certainly an interesting backdrop, it doesn’t take center stage: that’s part of some of the cast’s outstanding performances. Also credit the brisk pace of Derrickson, who co-wrote the short story by horror author Joe Hill with C. Robert Cargill.
Mason Thames plays Finney, a 13-year-old in 1978 in Denver who is kidnapped by The Grabber (Hawke) and locked in a soundproofed basement. Despite the Grabber’s assurances that he will not be harmed, Finney knows about children in the neighborhood who have disappeared in recent months and will never be seen again. Meanwhile, Finney’s sister Gwen (McGraw, in a beautiful performance) has foreboding dreams and visions of the children who have disappeared. When Finney disappears, she uses her “gifts” and tries to find her brother before it’s too late.
While Finney is locked in the basement, subjected to a series of brain games from The Grabber, he starts getting calls from an disconnected, abandoned phone on the basement wall. On the other side are the souls of the Grabber’s other child victims, all determined to warn him and give him advice on how to survive. This added layer of the supernatural would feel like a cheesy plot device in the hands of a lesser director, but Derrickson plays it perfectly and makes it all plausible as Gwen plays “psychic detective” trying to find him.
As each of the victims communicates with Finney, it becomes a little too obvious how their advice will all come back later in the inevitable confrontation with the Grabber. Still, the final act plays out in an exciting, entertaining way, with Derrickson ramping up the tension to almost unbearable levels. Rather than going over-the-top in the finale, Derrickson keeps the focus (and the action) in the confines of the basement, making for a crippling claustrophobic showdown.
The film is more disturbing than gory, and the subject of murdered children would normally be a turn-off for most viewers, but Derrickson never goes too dark with the story. That was at least one of the film’s few negatives: Ethan Hawke’s Grabber needed a little more development, as I felt like he could never unfold the true evil of his character and really eat up a landscape. Hawke played The Grabber in a subdued yet menacing manner, but only seems to flash of what he was capable of. Thames and McGraw, as well as Finn and Gwen, are fantastic actors, bringing an authenticity and seriousness to their roles that is unlike so many actors of their age. McGraw’s performance in a particularly heartbreaking scene is breathtaking – this kid can act.
The black phone doesn’t deliver the devastating horror that many expect today, but it works as a supernatural thriller that both entertains and disturbs. There are some good jumpscares, and Derrickson creates a memorable villain, imbuing Hawke with a uniquely evil bent. You only wish there was more of it, but things move at breakneck speed, so it rarely stays quiet. The black phone is one of the most entertaining horror thrillers in recent memory. Its viewability is suitable for multiple viewings and it is destined to become a cult favorite that doesn’t need the Halloween season to enjoy.
VIDEO AND AUDIO
The black phone was shot digitally, but cinematographer Brett Jutkiewicz used anamorphic lenses to give the film a dated look. The movie detail is fantastic and at times the movie looks almost too good to sell the 70’s feel. The colors (and the use of Super 8 film) help, which are often muted and unsaturated, with the exception of yellows and deep reds, which stand out against the beiges and browns that dominate the palette. Black and gray are pretty good for a Blu-ray transfer, which is necessary given that much of the film is set in a dark basement.
The audio is a 7.1 DTS-HDMA mix, offering some nuance across the channels, with heady explosions of screams and bass during jump scares. It’s a good track, although not as impressive as I’d hoped.
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS
A handful of short featurettes and an informative commentary make up the special features on the disc. You get a nice behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, but you wish the featurettes were more in-depth.
Among the bonus features on the Blu-ray are:
*Deleted scenes. Two scenes were shot: “Is This America Now?” (Duration :49) and “No Dreams” (Duration :29)
*“Ethan Hawke’s Evil Turn” featurette. Ethan Hawke and the producers discuss the character of The Grabber. Hawke, in particular, explores how he played the part while wearing a mask throughout the movie. Running time: 4:25
*“Answering the Call: Behind the Scenes of the Black Phone” featurette. Go behind the scenes of the most crucial elements of The Black Phone’s production, including adapting the story and making director Scott Derrickson’s vision a reality. Running time: 10:40
*“Devil in the Design” featurette. This promo clip explores how the production design team captured the period of the late 1970s perfectly, from the set design to costumes, hair and makeup. Making the masks of the Grabber is also discussed. Running time: 5:15
*“Super 8 Set” featurette. Cast and crew discuss the use of real Super 8 film during the ‘dream scenes’, adding a layer of authenticity and creepiness. Running time: 1:48
*“Shadowprowler” short film. In this short film by Scott Derrickson, an attempt to steal some booze goes horribly wrong. Running time: 11:57
*Audio Commentary. Scott Derrickson gives a lively commentary on his film. Although he is the only participant, he fills the time with stories from the set and a discussion of his sources of inspiration for the film.
*Digital copy. A code for a digital copy of the movie, compatible with services such as Movies Anywhere, VUDU, and AppleTV/iTunes, is included.
BLU-RAY SPECIFICATIONS
Release date: August 16, 2022
Rating: R (Violence, language, drug use)
Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish 7.1 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, French 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, Descriptive Video Service
Subtitles: English for the deaf and hard of hearing, French, Spanish
Tag: Universal
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