The Black Phone (2022) Review

“Wanna see a magic trick?”

After garnering a crown from science as having made the scariest movie of all time in Sinister (2012), and a brief stint with Marvel (Doctor Strange), Scott Derrickson returns to the genre that made him. Inspired by a short story by Joe Hill, the offspring of master of horror Stephen King, who explores the grim subject matter of missing children. Derrickson partnered with frequent collaborator C. Robert Cargill to develop the screenplay.

A reluctant Ethan Hawk who did not want to invite that kind of energy into his imagination returns as his lead, trusting Derrickson to make the role of a sadistic child killer, The Grabber, worthwhile.

Worthwhile indeed, a story that follows a serial killer grounds it in reality before delving into supernatural elements that propel the story forward. It is a film that boasts a strong ensemble, with Madeleine McGraw (Gwen), Mason Thames (Finney), and Miguel Cazarez Mora (Robin) serving as standouts in an impressive cast.

I only had one nitpick: The Ending.

Not only does it feel bathetic, it is disingenuous to the story that was being skillfully told. It would have been more fitting to explore the concept that cops are just janitors.

My take: The Grabber is able to overpower Finney, but before he walks up the stairs the black phone rings, he looks over to the ringing phone and decides to answer. After a brief pause we hear Finney’s voice on the other end and The Grabber looks straight at us before fading to black.